Today, the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj, was received in a special audience at the Vatican by His Holiness, Pope Francis.
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| The Albanian President in the premises of the Holy See while presenting the Church of the Assembly of Rubik to Pope Francis |
This is the second time President Begaj has been received in an audience by His Holiness, following his first visit to the Vatican in December 2022.
The head of state personally thanked Pope Francis for this reception, expressing sincere congratulations to him for his strong commitment to spreading peace through direct messages to end wars, especially in the hot conflict zones such as Ukraine and the Middle East.
The President of the Republic confirmed Albania's stance in support of Western allies for a solution through dialogue, as the only guarantee for stability and sustainable development in the Balkans and beyond.
President Begaj presented His Holiness with a painting of the Church of the Assembly of Rubik, an icon of Albanian Christianity and one of the oldest churches in the Balkans.
Later, President Begaj was also received in a meeting by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin.
During this meeting, discussions were held regarding the integration processes that Albania has undertaken as a natural part of Europe, and now expects to be a full member of the European Union with the advancement of reforms.
President Begaj thanked the Secretary of State for the support that the Holy See provides to Albania's integration processes. Also, concerning Kosovo, the President of Albania conveyed to the Secretary of State the progress Kosovo has made in the reform process, the rule of law, respect for minorities, and integration into international organizations.
The head of state emphasized the continuity of his commitment to deepening cooperation, also referring to the link between the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Albania and Kosovo.
President of the Republic Bajram Begaj was accompanied on this visit by the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the Holy See, Mrs. Majlinda Frangaj.