Albanian President Begaj meets Pope Francis, invites Vatican to Albania amid EU accession talks

Albanian President Bajram Begaj held a private audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican, discussing the strong ties between Albania and the Holy See. The talks focused on Albania’s progress toward European Union membership, regional stability in the Western Balkans, and the country’s history of religious persecution under the communist regime. Begaj highlighted the suffering, stating, “Shqipëria ka vuajtur në mënyrë të tmerrshme nga ndalimi i besimit gjatë regjimit komunist,” and extended a formal invitation for a papal visit to Albania. A meeting with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin also covered broader international issues, including Kosovo and the importance of dialogue for resolving regional disputes.