Albania seen by Pope as example of coexistence; a No to religious violence

September 22, 2014

Pope Francis paid tribute to Albania’s martyrs and upheld the nation as a model of peaceful religious coexistence during the first talk of his 11-hour apostolic journey there on September 21.

Religious believers in the Southeastern European nation of 3.0 million faced intense persecution under Communist rule in the decades that followed World War II.

“Almost a quarter of a century has passed since Albania re-embarked upon the arduous but rewarding path of freedom,” the Pope told civil leaders. “Respect for human rights – for you, ‘respect’ is an essential word – 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 recognized and guaranteed, creativity and interdependence thrive, and the potential of the human personality is unleashed through actions that further the common good.”

Albania’s “climate of respect and mutual trust between Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims,” the Pope added, “is a precious gift to the country” and stands in contrast to religious violence, which he denounced:

Let no one consider themselves to be the ‘armor’ of God 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!

The Pontiff also set forth a vision of economic development that includes respect for creation and the family:

In a world that tends to 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 globalization of the markets there must also be a corresponding globalization 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.

 

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Further information:

• Meeting with the civil authorities in the Reception Room of the Presidential Palace (Tirana, 21 September 2014)