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His Beatitude, Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana and all Albania, responded to an invitation by Pope Benedict XVI with an official visit to the Vatican from December 3rd – 8th.
Archbishop Anastasios was accompanied by His Grace, Metropolitan Joani of Korca; His Grace, Bishop Nikolla of Apollonia; His Grace, Bishop Andoni of Kruja; Secretary of the Holy Synod, Protopresbyter Jani Trebicka; and Deacon Anastas Bendo.
On December 4th the historic official visit between Archbishop Anastasios and Pope Benedict XVI was made.
The pope expressed his joy at welcoming His Beatitude and the top representatives of the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania which accompanied him.
The pope recalled with admiration the example of Albanian Christians who kept their faith alive even during Communist oppression, underlining the fact that Christianity has left indellible marks on Albanian culture. He stressed that, “Fraternal relationships between Catholics and Orthodox are an inspiration for all the Albanian people, a witness that it is possible for Christians to live together in harmony.
Pope Benedict XVI highly praised Archbishop Anastasios’ contribution towards the rebuilding of the Church in Albania, calling it “a movement of renewal which Your Beatitude rightly calls Ngjallja (Albanian for ‘Resurrection’).”
Then the Pope made special note of the contribution which Archbishop Anastasios and the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania is making in the international Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. He also mentioned two important initiatives: the creation of the Interconfessional Bible Society and the Committee for Interreligious Relations, which is valuable for the dialogue with other faiths.
Archbishop Anastasios called the meeting a historic event because for the first time the Orthodox Autocephalous Church of Albania was officially represented in a visit to the Roman Catholic Church, making clear that today’s world needs new ties between Christians, because theological dialogue and reconciliation are a basic obligation for leaders of the Churches.
Archbishop Anastasios also described how the Orthodox Church in Albania was persecuted and rebuilt from ruins.
The days in Rome were full for Archbishop Anastasios and the representatives that were with him. They visited various institutions and cultural monuments in The Vatican and made a number of important visits.
On December 9th in Naples, the Pontifical University of South Italy awarded Prof. Doctor Archbishop Anastasios with the title “Doctor Honoris Causa” for Theology for his long and very scientific contribution as a missionary and pastor.
The head chancelor of this department, Cardinal Creshenzio Sepe, Archbishop of Naples, also invited His Beatitude to give the main speech Lectio Magistralis for the official opening of the new academic year in Aula Magna of San Tomaso.
Translated by Georgia Bendo
