The New Evangelisation of Europe: it’s the theme of the next synod of bishops set
for October 2012. It’s also the theme of the Plenary Assembly of the CCEE, the Council
of European Bishops Conferences which is taking place from Thursday to Sunday in the
Albanian capital, Tirana.
For the first time in the history of the former communist
nation, the heads of the bishops conferences of 33 European countries will be meeting
there to discuss ways of making the Church more relevant and more able to reach out
to people of all backgrounds and all walks of life.
Ecumenism, education, problems
of religious intolerance, the impact of the media, as well as solidarity with Africa
and the Middle East – all these areas of concern will come under the spotlight at
the meeting, which will also elect a new president and two vice presidents to serve
for the coming five years.
But what exactly are the aims and the goals of this
encounter and how significant is its location in a nation where the Church was all
but annihilated under one of the most oppressive former communist regimes? Philippa
Hitchen put those questions to Archbishop Rrok Mirdita of Tirana who heads the Albanian
bishops conference....
Listen:
"Knowing the
history of the Catholic Church, not only in the past half century, but for centuries.....almost
500 years under Ottoman domination, then the most rigid communist dictatorship...the
Catholics in Albania were deprived of so many rights and isolated completely, so barely
they managed to preserve the faith...
Having the representatives of the hierarchy
of the Church in all Europe (in Tirana) gives a very strong message that we are not
just in suburbia of Europe or completely ignored or neglected.
Especially now
when wer are looking to be part of and get integrated into European institutions,
I think this is (important) not only for Catholics but in general for Albanians and
is viewed in this way by the highest authorities and by the people."