“...re among us” ARLINDA ÇAUSHOLLI SHKODËR — For months, the children of the choir of Shkodër Cathedral have been rehearsing their sweet songs. Performing before the Pope is not their first appearance, but it is certainly the most important. Little Lindita, ten years old, staring up at the ceiling of the entrance to the rebuilt church, sings from memory the refrain repeated thousands of times, her arms folded behind her back. Then, after a pause, she says: “I am very happy. For the first time, the visible Lord will come to Albania.” Here, in the midst of the activity of a city, is the great emotion the country is experiencing in the face of the Pope Giovanni Paolo II’s white figure. Everyone is waiting to welcome him: thousands upon thousands of Catholics, but also Muslims and Orthodox Christians, a sacred occasion to show the world the reality of religious democracy. The Pope will arrive in Shkodër at 10:30 this splendid spring Sunday. It seemed he would come here by helicopter made available by the Italian state for Vatican operations, but then it was decided that he would travel overland. No one can explain the exact reason: among the many hypotheses being discussed is that the conflict in Yugoslavia makes the skies less than safe. Nothing, then, will disturb the tranquillity of this festive day, although the Pope’s concern for the fate of the Albanian people in Koso- The State enterprises are making available the goods people want and selling them at lower-than-usual prices. “I have prepared everything. I hope my friend will feel at home. After all, even though we are not rich, hospitality is a custom that has never been absent,” says Rina, a housewife. At the same time, the Archbishop’s Palace has completed preparations in the rooms where the Pope will rest for two hours and have lunch. “It’s a very simple lunch: prosciutto, roast meat with spinach and potatoes, salad, dessert, fruit and coffee,” says hotelier Vjalli Virgill. And to welcome His Holiness, on Saturday evening in the town centre, young people gave a rock concert before a large crowd, accompanying the songs with colourful fireworks. “It is the greatest historical event,” says Le Gieka. “In 1460, or around that time, it is known that another Pope wanted to visit, but died before he could fulfil his wish. Pope John Paul II will bring a message of love and friendship between Muslims and Catholics, feelings that have been preserved for so many years. This is very important.” “It is something very rare. It will be precisely an event like this that will bring an indescribable joy and, for a long time, peace to our hearts,” says Tonin Ukju,

DOSSIER — TIRANA ALBANIAN GAZETTE LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO S.p.A. Editrice del Sud - EDISUD Registered with the Court of Bari under no. 1128, dated 5/3/1993. BARI - Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. Tel. 0039/80/270200 - Director: GIUSEPPE GORJUX - TIRANA - Rruga Bajram Curri, 370. Tel. 042/32646 - Editor responsible: CARLO BOLLINO - For advertising and subscriptions, contact: Ufficio Marketing, Viale Scipione l'Africano 264, 70124 Bari. Tel. 0039/80/270306 Albania and religious faith. This pairing, once widely acknowledged, later forcibly suppressed, has today returned as a compelling reality. A difficult, contradictory relationship, only recently reassessed, to the point that it has become one of the new symbols of democratic renewal. But what role have Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox Christians played in Albania’s history, before, during and after the Communist experience? And what does it mean to live one’s religious faith in a country where three faiths coexist, moreover in extraordinary harmony: Catholicism, Orthodoxy and Islam, accounting respectively for 10 percent, 20 percent and 70 percent of the population (figures based on a census conducted 40 years ago)? And further: how much does religious faith matter today in a nation defined for decades as “the most atheistic country in Europe”? For the first time this year, the Land of the Eagles returned to celebrating the end of “Ramadan,” as is customary in all other Islamic countries. Tomorrow Albanian believers will applaud the Pope’s visit to the country. Many things are happening in this country, which is now living through the anxiety of great transformations. Important things concerning the economy, culture, politics and, finally, people’s consciences as well. At a time when, only a few hundred kilometres away, a brother people is being massacred, even in the name of another religious faith, Albania is becoming a modern symbol of a new democracy: political and religious. It seems like a miracle, but in fact it is a joyful truth whose roots lie in part of the country’s history, both ancient and recent. The facts recounted in this dossier try — humbly — to trace that history. With one sole objective: to make it known, so that afterwards we may all try to understand together. Albania and religion. A pairing once affirmed, then forcibly denied, and today once again highly topical. A painful, contradictory relationship, recently reassessed to the point of becoming does it mean to live with religion in a country where as many as three faiths coexist in extraordinary harmony? And further: what weight does faith have atheistic of the Eagles (70 percent Muslim, 20 percent Orthodox and 10 percent Catholic, according to a census from forty years ago) has in all Islamic nations. Tomorrow Albanian believers will applaud the Pontiff’s visit. Much is happening in this country, which is living through the upheaval of great transformations. Important changes concern the economy, culture, politics and now, too, people’s consciences. While a brother people is being massacred just a few hundred kilometres away, also in the name of a different religious faith, Albania is instead religious. It seems like a miracle, but it is a joyful truth rooted in part of the country’s ancient and recent history. The facts recounted in this dossier try — humbly — to retrace that history. With one sole aim: to make it known, so that we may all try to understand together. Supplement to / Supplement LA GAZZETTA DEL MEZZOGIORNO Saturday, 24 April 1993 / Saturday, 24 April 1993

The Orthodox comment TIRANA — (Ed.La) — On the eve of the arrival of Pope John Paul II, Anastas Janullatos, Archbishop of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania, agrees to speak. “I belong to the generation after the Second World War,” he says, “a generation that has worked for the rapprochement of Christians and for dialogue among people of other faiths. The fact that I have been in the Ecumenical Movement for 30 years and take part in interfaith dialogue means that I regard every rapprochement as … … percent of Muslim origin, 20 percent Orthodox and 10 percent Roman Catholic.” Although he cannot give precise percentages, he is certain about the differences between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches: “The difference is that, whereas for the Albanian Catholic Church everything depends on the Vatican, for Albanian Orthodox Christians not everything depends on a centre outside the country.” But when might Albania have an Albanian Archbishop of its own? Janullatos answers enigmatically: “When you want to have heart surgery, you ask who is able to perform it; you do not ask whether that capable doctor was born here or there.” The Pope adds: “The only thing I … upon my arrival in Albania, the only …tion, is to see an authentic Albanian Orthodox Church, with its own clergy.”

…by helicopter, the skies unsafe. … people in Koso… and his sorrow over the tragedy of Bosnia are well known. Now everything has fallen into place, and homes have opened their doors to foreign journalists and friends from all over the world. Although the town has only one hotel, residents have volunteered, writing their names … community …, knowing there is only one hotel. The community, for its part, decided to help these families with meat, butter, potatoes, sugar and oil, according to their needs. Meanwhile, shopkeepers have been asked to go to… … His Holiness. … will bring messages have endured a very rare thing. An event like this will bring an indescribable … Tonin Ujku, director of the drama “Vëllai i Zott Tone,” staged two days ago and written by His Holiness himself. Artur Laçej: “Even though I am Muslim, I am waiting for the Pope just like everyone else. Curiosity is what drives me to experience this moment.” So everything is ready: Radio Shkodra, which will broadcast the Pope’s arrival ceremony live; the streets cleaned and put in order; the rollers, the shops stocked, the buildings painted in new colours, and more people than ever.

…“you are.” Those times are long gone. The most important truth that can be realised is one against violence and blindness; only in this way will the freedom desired for so many years not remain a dream. If the Pope can travel freely in Albania, appoint priests, consecrate bishops and pray with people in churches and …, then we can truly say that something has changed in this country. Only then will it no longer be the unconquered fortress of heartless people and hope.

…by the communist regime, some of which are currently being pronounced. The second is Rok Mirdrita, Archbishop of Durrës and Tirana. Born in Kilezë (Montenegro) in 1939. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Tivar in Montenegro in 1966. Since 1970, he has served the Albanian Catholic Community in New York (USA), in the “Our Lady of Good Counsel” family of Shkodër. Since September 1990, he had been parish priest of the parish mentioned above and Administrator of the Albanian Center of Saint Peter and… The fourth is Zef Simoni, Vicar of the Archdiocese of Shkodër. Born in Shkodër on December 1, 1928. He graduated in Linguistics and Literature from the Higher Pedagogical Institute. He studied theology/sciences during the communist persecution. In 1967, he was arrested and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He served only 12 years and immediately began his clandestine religious ministry in many factories and cities. In December ’92, he was serving as Vicar General of the Metropolitan See of Shkodër.

…reception. Besides this, adds Hafiz Sabri Koçi, the Pope is an extraordinary personality. I had the opportunity to meet him personally in Assisi, when, at his invitation, we prayed for peace to be achieved in Bosnia. He has done so much to help our Bosnian Muslim brothers escape Serbian barbarity.” “Albanian Muslims, among the three religious communities in Albania.” “There is no danger from our side,” the Muslim community replies through its leading theologian, Ramiz Zekaj. “Albanian Muslims will continue to be tolerant of their Albanian brothers of other faiths. Fundamentalist ideas have nothing to do with true Islamic faith.”

Sunday, a holiday for the whole country: the pilgrimage of John Paul II to Shkodër and Tirana