For a better future

Over the past generations the bishops of Kosovo have always supported its people’s intent and closely followed every event, bearing witness – before international authorities – to the fact that the Kosovan population, living in suffering, is a peaceful population, and this is why it has the right to be free just like other peoples. At the same time efforts have been focused on the preservation of universal human values, along with relevant internal and external factors whilst engaging in the defense of our freedom without threatening others’. We wish to congratulate all the citizens of Kosovo for having managed to develop these positive processes in extremely difficult circumstances and unfavorable situations through their legitimate representatives, which occasioned the Declaration of Independence. The Catholic Church of Kosovo is pleased to have been part of these major processes especially through our daily prayers, the unreserved commitment for peace, forgiveness and justice for all citizens. The ruling of the international Court of Justice in The Hague testifies to the fact that our people’s right to be free and live in the independent State of Kosovo is a legitimate right and that it doesn’t threaten the universal right to a family of world populations. In this circumstance, as bishop and pastor of the flock, I invite all of Kosovo’s citizens to continue living in peace, to be committed in the peaceful coexistence in justice also in the future, in order to build together a better future based on the law and on justice. I pray to the Lord that those States which have not yet recognized the State of Kosovo do so as soon as they can, since the sooner the disputes in these areas of Europe end, the better it will be for the creation of the foundations of a long-lasting peace, for the reconciliation among the peoples and their union in the European family. Fact sheetThe Country. The Republic of Kosovo is a State recognized by 69 countries (out of 192 UN member states), these include the major Western Countries such as the United States and 22 States in EU27, but it is rebuked by Russia and Serbia. The EU is divided over the issue. Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Slovakia and Romania disagree with its recognition since they fear a “Kosovo effect” on their autonomist regions. Since 2008 the EU mission Eulex is present in the Country. It counts some 2 million inhabitants of which 92% are Albanians, 5.3% Serbs and 2.7% from other ethnic groups. Social situation. Most GDP is still produced by the remittance of immigrants and by funding granted by international bodies. Although its volume cannot be tracked, smuggling and illegal trafficking also affect the economy. Over the past year the coexistence of different ethnic groups has improved, although there are occasional episodes of violence. The northern part of the region, with a Serbian majority population, is detached from the rest of country. Orthodox Church. Belgrade’s attachment to Kosovo is linked to its centrality for Serbian culture. In Serbian the original name of the region, Kosovo i Metohija, means “the land of the blackbirds and monasteries”, such as the one of Pec, near the border with Montenegro, where the patriarchate of the Orthodox Serbian Church was installed in 1346.Catholic Church. A Catholic minority is also present in Kosovo, amounting to some 65 thousand faithful who are very active in the social realm. The same number of Catholic faithful live in the Kosovian missions in Europe and in the United States. There are 24 parish churches and some 30 diocesan priests. A minor seminary is located in the city of Prizren, while for theological studies seminarians refer to near Albania or other seminaries across Europe. Kosovo’s Church, which in the past was linked to the diocese of Skopje in Macedonia, is currently represented by an apostolic administration coordinated by Msgr. Dode Gjergji. Its headquarters are located in Prizren, but a structure was recently completed in Pristina where the new cathedral dedicated to Mother Theresa will be inaugurated September 5. Indeed Mother Theresa, whose parents were originally from Kosovo, is one of the most worshipped figures by the Kosovans, not only by Catholics but also by Muslims.