Former Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha has described Pope Francis as a great figure of peace and a distinguished friend of Albania.
Speaking after visiting the Vatican Embassy in Tirana to express his condolences following the passing of the Pope, Berisha shared a heartfelt message in the condolence book placed by the Apostolic Nunciature.
Berisha also recalled a personal moment with the late Pope:
“I had the privilege of meeting him briefly on the day of his inauguration. I invited him to Albania. I noticed how attentive and interested he was in the invitation. I told him, ‘I invite you firstly because it is tradition for neighbors to visit each other first—and we are among your closest neighbors. Secondly, the history of the Albanian Church, and the alliance between Albanians and the Vatican, calls for this visit.’”
He emphasized the Pope’s 2014 visit to Albania, calling it one of the most profound moments in the country’s interfaith and political history—a visit that conveyed a strong message of unity, tolerance, and respect for the victims of communist dictatorship.
“It was an extraordinary event not just for Albania but for Western civilization as a whole. During his visit, Pope Francis beatified 38 Albanian martyrs of the Catholic Church, who died for their faith in God and Christ.”
In conclusion, Berisha wished eternal peace for the soul of Pope Francis and called his passing a great loss for the world—and especially for Albania.