- Title: ALBANIA-POPE/PREPS Tirana prepares for Pope Francis' visit
- Date: 20th September 2014
- Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (SEPTEMBER 20, 2014) (REUTERS) STREET COVERED WITH BANNERS SHOWING CATHOLIC PRIESTS WHO WERE PERSECUTED AND KILLED UNDER ENVER HOXA'S RULE STAGE WHERE POPE FRANCIS WILL HOLD A MASS BEING PREPARED CRUCIFIX BEING HUNG ON STAGE WALL VARIOUS OF WORKERS PLACING CHAIRS IN FRONT OF STAGE WORKERS CARRYING SIGN ANNOUNCING POPE'S VISIT STREET CLEANERS SWEEPING STEPS AND STREET ON ST. THERESA SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) TIRANA RESIDENT, KSENOFON DILO, SAYING: "It is of no importance in my case whether I am Catholic, Orthodox (Christian) or Mohammedan (Muslim). The pope is coming to see our country, a country which has suffered a lot and which he is coming to to say many things, including telling us to preserve the peaceful coexistence of many religions. So it is not important if I am Orthodox (Christian) or if belong to another religion. What is of real importance is that people get the feeling of goodness in their souls and this pope can offer them that so that they share in it." PEOPLE WALKING PAST METAL BARRIERS (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) TIRANA RESIDENT, STAVRI QENDRO, SAYING: "Religions here are united. I am from Berat. There we were Muslims and Orthodox and even some Catholic and whenever there was a religious holiday we would get together. They would come to us for Easter and for Bairam we would go to their houses. The religions are united here in Albania." (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) TIRANA RESIDENT, FREDANA KRASNIQI, SAYING: "It will be so crowded here tomorrow and I will not be able to see much, so I decided to come already today too see how it all looks." ALBANIAN AND PAPAL FLAG FLYING ON POST STAGE WITH UNIVERSITY BUILDING BEHIND IT MUSEUM OF NATIONAL HISTORY WITH A COMMUNIST ERA MOSAIC SHOWING FIGURES FROM ALBANIAN HISTORY SQUARE WITH STATUE OF MEDIAEVAL NATIONAL HERO SKENDERBEG, MOSQUE IN BACKGROUND
- Embargoed: 5th October 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Albania
- Country: Albania
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA3DYMIKAVBPWYL289PZ7FVUNIR
- Story Text: Albania was making preparations on Saturday (September 20) to host Pope Francis, ahead of the pontiff's first official visit to a European country.
The rundown Mother Teresa Square in Tirana was being cleaned and spruced up, with a stage set up, where Francis will celebrate a Mass on Sunday.
Albanians -- Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Muslims alike -- are expected to pack the square on Sunday (Septemeber 21) to hear the pope speak during his day-trip across the Adriatic from Italy.
"It is of no importance in my case whether I am Catholic, Orthodox (Christian) or Mohammedan (Muslim). The pope is coming to see our country, a country which has suffered a lot and which he is coming to to say many things, including telling us to preserve the peaceful coexistence of many religions. So it is not important if I am Orthodox (Christian) or if belong to another religion. What is of real importance is that people get the feeling of goodness in their souls and this pope can offer them that so that they share in it," said local resident, Ksenofon Dilo.
One Orthodox Christian said the different religions had always got on well in Albania.
"Religions here are united. I am from Berat. There we were Muslims and Orthodox and even some Catholic and whenever there was a religious holiday we would get together. They would come to us for Easter and for Bairam we would go to their houses. The religions are united here in Albania," said Satvri Qendro.
Francis follows in the footsteps of Pope John Paul, whose 27-year papacy coincided with the end of the Cold War. His visit to Albania in 1993 marked the revival of religious faith after decades of repression.
Sunday's Mass is expected to be a well-attended event.
"It will be so crowded here tomorrow and I will not be able to see much, so I decided to come already today too see how it all looks," said local resident, Fredana Krasniqi.
Catholics account for around 10 percent of the population. Some 60 percent of all Albanians are Muslim, while others are mainly Christian Orthodox or agnostic.
Catholicism has reclaimed its place in this predominantly Muslim but largely secular country in the more than two decades since the borders reopened and the country set out to rejoin Europe.
The revival of the faith, and its peaceful coexistence with Islam, is what Francis will celebrate on Sunday, against a backdrop of turmoil in the Middle East and signs of rising cultural intolerance in Europe.
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