VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE   
   YEAR XXII - # 160   
   DATE 21-09-2014   
      
   Summary:   
   - The Pope arrives in Albania, example of fruitful co-existence between people   
   of different beliefs   
   - The living Church in the Land of the Eagles: thank you for your fidelity   
   - To the young: yes to acceptance and solidarity   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    The Pope arrives in Albania, example of fruitful co-existence between people   
   of different beliefs   
    Vatican City, 21 September 2014 (VIS) - This morning Pope Francis began his   
   visit to Tirana, Albania - his fourth apostolic trip and the second by a   
   pontiff to the "Land of the Eagles". The first was by John Paul II in 1993,   
   two years after the fall of the dictatorship and following the establishment   
   of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Republic of Albania. On   
   that occasion, the Pope celebrated Mass in the Cathedral of Scutari, which had   
   been transformed into a sports centre under the communist regime, and he   
   blessed the first stone for the reconstruction of the Shrine to Our Lady of   
   Good Counsel, built in 1895 and demolished in 1967. In Tirana in recent years   
   both the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of the Jesuit Fathers and the   
   Orthodox Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ have been rebuilt.   
    The Holy Father, who departed from Rome's Fiumicino airport at 7.30 a.m.,   
   arrived in Tirana at 9 a.m. and was received at the aerodrome dedicated to   
   Mother Teresa by representatives of the religious and civil authorities,   
   including the apostolic nuncio in Albania, Archbishop Ramiro Moliner Ingles,   
   and the Albanian prime minister Edi Rama. He proceeded by car to the   
   presidential palace of Tirana, where the welcome ceremony took place, and he   
   was greeted by the Albanian president, Bujar Nishani. Following a brief   
   discussion, the president accompanied the Pope to the Salon Scanderberg for a   
   meeting with the authorities, the diplomatic corps, and some of the country's   
   religious leaders.   
    In his address to those present, the full text of which is published below,   
   the Holy Father spoke about Albania's path to recovering civil liberties and   
   religious freedom, warning of the exploitation of differences between   
   religions and praising the peaceful co-existence and collaboration between   
   those of different religious beliefs in Albania.   
    "I am very happy to be here with you, in this noble land of Albania, a land   
   of heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence of the nation, and a   
   land of martyrs, who witnessed to their faith in difficult times of   
   persecution. I am grateful for the invitation to visit your country, called   
   'the Land of the Eagles', and for your warm welcome.   
    "Almost a quarter of a century has passed since Albania re-embarked upon the   
   arduous but rewarding path of freedom. This experience has allowed Albanian   
   society to take up the process of material and spiritual reconstruction, to   
   foster an increase of enthusiasm and initiatives, and to create a spirit of   
   cooperation and exchange with countries of the Balkans, the Mediterranean,   
   Europe and indeed with the rest of the world. This rediscovered freedom has   
   helped you look to the future with trust and hope, establishing new projects   
   and renewing friendly relations with countries both near and far.   
    "Respect for human rights, among which religious freedom and freedom of   
   expression stand out, is the preliminary condition for a country's social and   
   economic development. When the dignity of the human person is respected and   
   his or her rights recognised and guaranteed, creativity and interdependence   
   thrive, and the potential of the human personality is unleashed through   
   actions that further the common good.   
    "There is a rather beautiful characteristic of Albania, one which is given   
   great care and attention, and which gives me great joy: I am referring to the   
   peaceful coexistence and collaboration that exists among followers of   
   different religions. The climate of respect and mutual trust between   
   Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims is a precious gift to the country. This is   
   especially the case in these times where an authentic religious spirit is   
   being perverted and where religious differences are being distorted and   
   exploited. This creates dangerous circumstances which lead to conflict and   
   violence, rather than being an occasion for open and respectful dialogue, and   
   for a collective reflection on what it means to believe in God and to follow   
   his laws.   
    "Let no one use God as a 'shield' while planning and carrying out acts of   
   violence and oppression! May no one use religion as a pretext for actions   
   against human dignity and against the fundamental rights of every man and   
   woman, above all, the right to life and the right of everyone to religious   
   freedom!   
    "What the experience in Albania shows, rather, is that a peaceful and   
   fruitful coexistence between persons and communities of believers of different   
   religions is not only desirable, but possible and realistic. The peaceful   
   coexistence of different religious communities is, in fact, an inestimable   
   benefit to peace and to harmonious human advancement. This is something of   
   value which needs to be protected and nurtured each day, by providing an   
   education which respects differences and particular identities, so that   
   dialogue and cooperation for the good of all may be promoted and strengthened   
   by mutual understanding and esteem. It is a gift which we need to implore from   
   God in prayer. May Albania always continue to walk this path, offering an   
   inspiring example to other countries.   
    "Mr President, after a winter of isolation and persecution, the springtime of   
   freedom has finally come. By means of free elections and new institutional   
   structures, a democratic pluralism has been consolidated which is now   
   favouring economic activity. Many people, especially at the beginning, chose   
   to emigrate in search of work and a better standard of living, and in their   
   own way contributed to the advancement of Albanian society. Many others   
   rediscovered reasons for staying in their homeland, wanting to build it up   
   from within. The efforts and sacrifices of all have improved the life of the   
   nation in general.   
    "The Catholic Church, for her part, has resumed a normal existence,   
   re-establishing her hierarchy and rejoining the threads of a long tradition.   
   Places of worship have been built or rebuilt. Among these, the Sanctuary of   
   Our Lady of Good Counsel at Scutari holds a special place. Similarly, schools   
   and centres of education and healthcare have been established for use by all   
   citizens. The presence of the Church and her activities are therefore rightly   
   seen as a service, not only to the Catholic community, but rather to the whole   
   nation.   
    "Blessed Mother Teresa, together with the martyrs who witnessed to their   
   faith - to whom we pray and offer our appreciation - most certainly are   
   rejoicing in heaven because of the work of men and women of good will who   
   contribute to the flourishing of civil society and the Church in Albania.   
    "Today, however, new challenges arise which must be faced. In a world that   
   tends toward economic and cultural globalization, every effort must be made to   
   ensure that growth and development are put at the service of all and not just   
   limited parts of the population. Furthermore, such development will only be   
   authentic if it is sustainable and just, that is, if it has the rights of the   
   poor and respect for the environment close to heart. Alongside the   
   globalisation of the markets there must also be a corresponding globalisation   
   of solidarity; together with economic growth there must be a greater respect   
   for creation; alongside the rights of individuals, there must be the   
   guaranteed rights of those who are a bridge between the individual and the   
   state, the family being the first and foremost of such institutions. Today   
   Albania is able to face these challenges in an atmosphere of freedom and   
   stability, two realities which must be strengthened and which form the basis   
   of hope for the future".   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)