杏MAP导航 receives President of Albania

杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis and President Bajram Begaj of Albania meet in the Vatican and remember the communist regime's religious persecution of Christians and the Albanian people's efforts to protect Jewish people.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

杏MAP导航 Francis received the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Bajram Begaj, in the Vatican on Monday, at which time, they recalled the harsh religious persecution of Christians under communism and the protection offered by the Albanian people to Jews.

Following his meeting with the 杏MAP导航, the President met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, accompanied by the Vatican Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

According to a statement issued by the Holy See Press Office, the discussions held at the Secretariat of State were "cordial," expressing appreciation "for the positive bilateral relations," and mentioning "some open questions in the relations between Church and State."

"Attention," the communiqué noted, "then turned to Albania鈥檚 path to membership of the European Union and various international issues, with a focus on the Western Balkans region and the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine."

At the end of the audience, the 杏MAP导航 presented the President of Albania with a number of gifts, including a bronze sculpture, volumes of papal documents, and his .

杏MAP导航 Francis made an Apostolic Journey to on 21 September 2014.