A bust of Pope Francis was unveiled in Tirana by the Apostolic Nuncio to Albania, Mgr. Ramiro Molinar Ingles on March 14, 2016. At the inauguration of Pope Francis’s statue were present President of Albania Bujar Nishani, Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj, deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi, Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro and other political and religious figures.
The Municipality of Tirana’s decision to place Pope Francis bust was taken during the meeting of Tirana City Council earlier this week. Created by Albanian sculptor Qazim Arifi, the bust was placed near the Pyramid. On its lower part are carved a few words Pope Francis said during his visit in Tirana two years ago: “The eagle, depicted on your nation’s flag, does not forget its nest, but flies into the heights. All of you, fly into the heights!”
“We all feel highly privileged to attend the Holy Father bust inauguration ceremony. Albanian people had the chance to be blessed by the Holy Father during his visit in Tirana two years ago,” Nishani said during the inauguration ceremony. Pope Francis visited Albania on September 21, 2014. He was the second pope to visit Albania after Pope Jean Paul II’s visit in the early 90s. According to the Vatican, the Pope decided to visit Albania to highlight its religious harmony during times of terrorism attacks.
Pope Francis has recently recognized a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa after her death, and has announced that Mother Teresa will be declared a saint on September 4, 2016.
