Albania, fruitful coexistence

There are unforgettable days in the history of a people. Those days mark the pace of a new journey. That was the case of April 25 1993 in Albania when, for the first time a Pope – John Paul II – visited the Country, literally reconstructing the Church after the terrible years of the persecution by the atheist-Communist regime. This is how will be remembered also September 21 2014: after 21 years another Pope – Francis – returns to Albania to “confirm the Church in the faith” and to “encourage” the Country. It’s an important appointment, awaited with anticipation not only by Catholics, which are a minority group (approximately 15%), but also by all Albanians (over 56% are Muslim). And Pope Francis didn’t fail to meet expectations. That of young people is certainly a first image to summarize the entire visit. Young people who followed the Pope’s every step: from Mother Teresa square to the Catholic University, from the cathedral to the Bethany Centre. Also other snapshots contribute to an overview of the visit: religious leaders, the eagle, the martyrs, the embrace with two survivors of persecution, Fr Ernest Simoni (Troshani) and Sister Maria Kaleta, the children of the Bethany Centre… Religions. The Pope’s words were clear since the first speech addressed to authorities in the presidential palace. “May no one – he said – 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”. Later, during the meeting with religious leaders at the Catholic University, he added: “To kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege”. Albania, Pope Francis repeated several times, “is an example of peaceful coexistence”. A coexistence and a dialogue – he told religious leaders – that today entail “two attitudes”: to regard every man and woman, “as brothers and sisters”, to be committed “for the common good”. Because “the more we serve others the more we are free”. The Pope called upon the faithful to see “the needs of the poor”. These words reflect those delivered to Albanian authorities: “Alongside the globalisation of the markets there must also be a corresponding globalisation of solidarity”, and those at the Bethany Centre: “Goodness offers infinitely more than money, which only deludes”. These words were felt particularly by Albanians, ever more threatened by relativism and individualism, as denounced on various occasions by local bishops and by new and old malaise: corruption, social unbalance, attacks against the marriage institution… The eagle, the young. Not everything is “dark” however. It cannot be dark for a Country that has an eagle depicted on its flag. “May that flag”, Francis suggested during Mass in Mother Teresa square, “call to mind hope”. “Do not forget the eagle”, His Holiness went on, it “does not forget the nest, but flies high. It flies high!” In particular, he added, introducing the Angelus prayer, “dear young people, you are the new generation of Albania, the future of your homeland. Know how to say ‘No’ to the idolatry of money, No’ to the false freedom of individualism, ‘No’ to addiction and to violence; say ‘Yes’ to a culture of encounter and of solidarity. In this way, you will build a better Albania and a better world”. Young people have received the message loud and clear, as testified by the tears of Elidon Doday, a 31-year-old volunteer who ran shouting: “I shook the Pope’s hand! It’s so important to me. His words have touched my heart. Yes, I want to be committed for the future, as our martyrs have”. Martyrs and survivors. The martyrs… their forty faces have “embellished” the main street of Tirana (Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit), leading to Mother Teresa Square. “Albania – the Pope said during the Mass – was a land of martyrs: many paid for their fidelity with their lives. Demonstrations of great courage and constancy in the profession of the faith are not lacking”. Fr Ernest and Sister Mary bear witness to this. They shared their story before the celebration of vespers in the Cathedral. The Pope’s tears, right after their testimonies, touched the hearts of all those present, and not only theirs. Francis was so touched that he put aside his written speech and spoke impromptu. “This population – he exclaimed – still bears the memory of its martyrs!” Turning to the two survivors he added: “Forgive me if today I take you as an example, but we should all be an example for one another. We go back home with good thoughts: today we touched the martyrs”. A snapshot which crowns a truly historic visit.