Topi visits Pontiff at Vatican

TIRANA – Pope Benedict XVI met on Saturday with Albania’s President Bamir Topi to talk on relations between Albania and the Holy See, ecumenical affairs, and Albania’s hopes for entry into the European Union. After his meeting with the Pontiff, Topi also spoke separately with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, the Secretary for Relations with States.
Pope Benedict XVI said that Vatican supports Albanian integration.
Pope evaluated the role of Albania for the peace in region taking into consideration the example of coexistence of religion in harmony.
Topi estimated the role of Catholic Church and expressed his conviction that Vatican will support the aspirations of the Albanian people.
The Pope and Topi addressed “Albania’s journey towards full integration into the European Union”, the statement said as well as relations between the religious and civil communities in the country.
The Vatican actively encourages ex-communist Balkan countries to join the EU in the goal of keeping peace in a region that remains vulnerable to ethnic conflict and violence.
Archbishop of Shkoder Angelo Massafra, who was part of the trip, told Vatican Radio that the Church in Albania faced many challenges including how to pay proper tribute to the “blood of our martyrs and so many others who were killed by the communist system”