On September 21st, Pope Francis will travel to Albania for a one day visit. For years, the country was under the rule of communism. Decades have passed, but its effects are still present.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pope Francis will be the second Pontiff to visit the country. John Paul II went back in 1993.\u00a0<\/p>\n
FR. SEGUNDO REJADO
\nFormer Director, Caritas Albania
\n'John Paul II went there after the fall of the Berlin Wall and \u00a0collapse of Communism, which greatly affected Albania. He was welcomed like a prophet by the locals, no matter their creed. Pope Francis is likely to be welcome in the same way, but in a totally different context.\u00e2?\u009d<\/p>\n
Spanish priest Segundo Tejado lived in Albania for 10 years and knows the country quite well. \u00a0He says in a country with such a painful past, national unity overcomes \u00a0religious differences.<\/p>\n
Three major confessions coexist in Albania. About 57% of its population is Muslim; Catholics are about 10%, and Orthodox Christians represent 7% of its people. For decades, all of them suffered persecution.\u00a0<\/p>\n
FR. SEGUNDO REJADO
\nFormer Director, Caritas Albania
\n'The Church in the country was destroyed and now it's being rebuilt. A lot of priests were martyred...And all the churches were turned into gyms. It's quite challenging, because you have to rebuild the Church with living stones, meaning, new Christians. A lot of time will be needed\u00e2?\u009d.<\/p>\n
Albania was the first country to officially adopt atheism as part of its constitution. It wasn't until 1990 that religious practice was accepted once again. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Pope Francis says he wants to visit the country to support all Christians who suffered from religious persecution. Also to highlight that different religions can indeed co-exist peacefully.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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