(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis met on Thursday with the Albanian Prime Minister Edi
Rama and his wife in the library of the Apostolic Palace. According to a statement
from the Holy See press office, the two men discussed relations between church and
state in Albania, as well as dialogue between the different faith communities and
the contribution Catholics can make to the common good of the former Communist country.
Catholics number just over ten percent of the population in the predominantly
Muslim nation, with the Orthodox Church making up the third largest religious community.
During the meeting the Pope and the Prime Minister also spoke about issues facing
the Balkan region and about Albania’s progress towards integration in the European
Union
At the end of the 20 minute meeting Pope Francis gave a special blessing
to the Prime Minister’s wife who is currently expecting a baby. Speaking to Vatican
Radio after the audience, the Albanian leader said it was a very moving moment for
the couple when the Holy Father laid his hand on his wife’s stomach to bless their
unborn child.
Please find below the English translation of the statement
from the Holy See press office:
On the morning of Thursday 24 April 2014
the Holy Father Francis received in Audience, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace,
the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania, His Excellency Mr. Edi Rama, who
subsequently met with Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by
Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States. During the
cordial discussions, the Parties remarked upon the good relations between the Holy
See and the Republic of Albania, and focused on themes of common interest regarding
the relations between the ecclesial and civil communities, including interreligious
dialogue and the contribution of the Church to the common good of Albanian society. Attention
then turned to the principal regional issues and Albania’s progress towards full integration
within the European Union.