Pope Albania visit showcases Muslim-Christian ties

Rasa - In his first trip to the Muslim-majority country, Pope Francis held up Albania as a model of religious harmony compared to the sectarian savagery sweeping across the Middle East.

News ID: 1198

Date: 21 September 2014 - 15:02

RNA – Pope Francis has arrived in Albania. The one-day apostolic visit is his first to a European Nation since the beginning of his Papacy in March 2013, Vatican Radio reports.

In his first trip to the Muslim-majority country, Pope Francis held up Albania as a model of religious harmony compared to the sectarian savagery sweeping across the Middle East.

The one-room, stone church of St. Nicholas has sat on the top of a hill here since the 16th century, destroyed three times and rebuilt in a testament to the Catholic presence in this region that dates to St. Paul. Its latest incarnation, however, is particularly poignant: 15 Muslim families chipped in to help rebuild it in a sign of the remarkable coexistence that exists in Albania between Christians and Muslims.

"There is a rather beautiful characteristic of Albania, one which is given great care and attention, and which gives me great joy: I am referring to the peaceful coexistence and collaboration that exists among followers of different religions," the Pope said during the first address of his day-long trip to the Balkan country.

Albania offered "an inspiring example" to countries riven by sectarian violence and religious hatred.

This is the fourth international trip of Francis's papacy, after visits to Brazil, the Holy Land and South Korea. He is scheduled to visit Turkey next month.

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