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| The Pope meets with the working group of the book "History of the Jesuits in Albania" |
A few days ago, His Holiness Pope Francis received in a private audience the working group responsible for preparing the book "The History of the Jesuits in Albania (1841-1946)" by the author Ines Murzaku, a professor of religion and director of Catholic studies at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. The book was translated from English to Albanian by Anna Shkreli, reviewed by Dr. Markus W.E. Peters, Prof. Asoc. Dr. Erenestina Gjergji (Halili), and proofread by Dasareta Mitro under the care of Fr. Zef Bisha S.J, the superior of the Society of Jesus in Albania, who led the group during this audience, Vatican News reports.
During the meeting, His Holiness showed interest in specific aspects of this study, emphasizing that "Albania was the first country visited in Europe since His election as Pope," underscoring the significance and attention he gives to the country and its people.
The study is presented to the public in a historically significant year, the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' election to the See of Saint Peter.
In a letter addressed to the superior of the Society of Jesus in Albania, which has been published, Pope Francis himself wrote, "I am happy about the publication of the book on the history of the Jesuits in Albania." Fr. Roberto del Riccio S.J, the Provincial Superior of the Euro-Mediterranean Province (EUM), commented that "The Jesuit mission in Albania was crowned with a scientific, educational, and missionary legacy, followed by the new generation of Jesuits, as well as martyrdom, where they sanctified their love for Jesus and for the Albanian people with their blood."