Today marks 11 years since Pope Francis’ historic visit to Albania, a milestone event that took place on September 21, 2014, in the capital city of Tirana.
The visit, which lasted around 12 hours, was the Pope’s first trip to Europe after his election to the papacy, making Albania the first European country he chose to visit as head of the Catholic Church.
A Message of Peace and Unity
During his stay, Pope Francis highlighted Albania’s legacy of peaceful coexistence and interfaith harmony. He began his program with an official address at the Presidential Palace, followed by a Holy Mass in Mother Teresa Square, attended by tens of thousands of Albanians of different religious backgrounds.
His presence gave global recognition to Albania’s example of tolerance, dialogue, and cooperation among faith communities.
