On the streets of Tirana you could see today many foreign tourists coming from different countries.
Albanian flags and those of the Vatican, as well as 40 pictures that represent the sad history of clergy who were convicted and unjustly persecuted by the dictatorship system, because of their religious beliefs, are located along the boulevard "Martyrs of the Nation" in the capital.
Almost 1400 journalists from all over the world will be in Tirana to report on Pope's visit.
*******
This will be the second visit of a Pope to Albania, after Pope St John Paul II’s visit to the country in 1993.
Pope Francis trip will begin with a welcoming ceremony at Tirana’s “Mother Teresa” international airport, where he will be greeted by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.
From the airport the Pope will travel to the Presidential Palace where he will pay a courtesy visit to the President, Bujar Nishani. Afterwards he will address representatives of the civil authorities.
The high point of the Voyage will be the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in Mother Teresa Square. After the Mass, the Holy Father will meet with the Bishops of Albania for lunch at the Apostolic Nunciature.
In the afternoon, Pope Francis will meet with leaders of other religions and other Christian denominations at the Catholic University “Our Lady of Good Counsel.”
The Holy Father will travel to the Cathedral of St Paul in the evening to celebrate Vespers with priests, religious sisters and brothers, seminarians, and members of various lay movements.
The final event will be a meeting with children of the “Centro Betania,” along with representatives from other charitable institutions of Albania.
Although Pope Francis’ Apostolic Voyage will be only the second visit by a reigning Pope, four other Roman Pontiffs have ties to the country: Pope St Eleutherius, Pope St Caius, and Pope John IV were all born in Albania, while the ancestors of Pope Clement XI also hailed from the country. /albeu.com/
- Oculus News