2014-09-19 14:01:00

Saint John Paul II: his words to Albanians in 1993


(Vatican Radio)  It was Sunday April 25th 1993, when Pope John Paul II went on a day visit to Albania. On this occasion he spoke to the President of the nation, to civil military  and religious authorities of  ‘ the severe  oppression of  the communist  regime’. In totalitarian regimes like yours , he remarked on this occasion, man was deprived of fundamental rights, freedom of judgment and action, freedom of conscience. A deprivation that often took on unspeakable brutality. Churches of every confession were closed, priests who administered sacraments condemned to death. Believers were persecuted, imprisoned, ostracised in every way.     

Listen to  some excerpts from this speech delivered in Tiranas’ Scanderberg Square  in a translation read for us by Sean Patrick Lovett:

Please find below excerpts  from Saint John Paul II's speech in Tirana on April 25, 2014: 

In your nation, oppressed more than anywhere else by persecution it’s not hard to recognise   signs of the ancient Christian catacombs and circuses, where witnesses to Christ were thrown to be torn apart by wild beasts.

 A hard line was adopted against religious practice in keeping with the  social and political programme advocated by communist ideology. It seemed that the means most necessary to reach the desired and flaunted ‘paradise on earth’ should be that of depriving man of the strength he draws from Christ, forcefully condemned as a weakness unworthy of the human person. In reality rather than unworthy,  it was inconvenient as the facts proved. For individuals drew strength from their faith rather than allow themselves to be relegated to collective anonymity. 

 What happened in Albania, dear brothers and sisters, has never happened before in history.

 As we know during the Roman Empire there were brutal persecutions of Christians. But while in this case the State fought against the followers of the Gospel of  Christ in the  name of the pagan religion, here  the State tried to  destroy  all religious expression in the name of  radical atheism, which was universally enshrined in its totalitarian regime.

 What happened took place  without anyone being able to intervene in defence of  the dignity a people deprived of everything, even of  their very humanity, of their freedom.

 Your drama, therefore dearest Albanians, is of interest and  indeed should be of interest to the entire European continent and it is necessary that Europe not forget. This is an inevitable step not just to avoid the repetition of  these  regrettable mistakes but also in order to engage in a true process of  reconciliation.

 Nothing reminds us more than faith that we have one Creator, that we are all brothers! Religious freedom is a fortress against totalitarianism and a decisive contribution to human brotherhood. True religious freedom shies away from the temptation of intolerance and sectarianism and promotes respectful attitudes and constructive dialogue. The Albanian people – it pleases me to remember this right now- is exemplary from this point of view. The three great religious communities entertain relations of reciprocal esteem and cordial collaboration. 

 








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