TIRANA, Dec. 7 – December 5th marked the 150th birth anniversary of Marshal Jà³zef PiŠ‚sudski. Even though PiŠ‚sudski was Polish, his memory today doesn’t just live in Poland, as a commemorative plaque on the occasion of his anniversary was unveiled in Albania on Sunday.
The ceremony took place in the church of St. John Paul II, in the town of Bathore, in which Polish Redemptorists work, and was attended, among others, by French ambassador Christina Vasak and Spanish ambassador Vicente Canelles, as well as representatives of state authorities. The dedication was made by the Apostolic Nuncio to Albania, Archbishop Charles Brown.
The Polish ambassador in Albania, Karol Bachura, who provided the establishment of the plaque and represented Poland at the ceremony, stressed that although Marshal PiŠ‚sudski had no direct influence on the fate of the Balkan nations, without a free Poland, it is impossible to tell what Europe would look like presently. It was in free Poland that the patron of the church, John Paul II, was born.
John Paul II once said: “I love the Albanian nation the most, for two reasons; firstly because the Albanians suffered very long, very unjustly, and secondly because they gave to the world Mother Teresa of Calcutta.”
Poles and Albanians have many similarities – they are patriots, they are characterized by dignity and love of their homeland. For years, both countries were under slavery while both in Poland and in Albania, there was communism and the fight against faith and religion.
With this event, the church of St. John Paul II in Bathore has become an important center for the promotion of culture, tradition and Polish-Albanian cooperation.
