Prime Minister Edi Rama visited today the exhibition “Catholicism and culture,” a collage of works by Catholic personalities, important names of Albanian culture and art such as Buzuku, Bogdani, Bardhi, Fishta, Gjeçovi, and many others.

Organized by the National Library of Albania on the occasion of the visit of Pope Francis in Albania, the exhibition conveys through its works interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance in Albania.

Persida Asllani, new Director of the National Library, said in the opening speech that the exhibition has been conceived as an invitation “to remember together, not only the contribution coming from the Catholic clergy and all the people of this community, but also to follow the continuous radiation that comes up to our days and marks our modernity, our European identity along with one of our best features which is religious coexistence and harmony.”- director Persida Asllani said.

Minister of Culture Mirela Kumbaro said that through this exhibition, the public will have the opportunity to get to know a bright but painful path for Albanians, the path towards European identity, an identity that is undeniable. “We have today the great fortune and opportunity to walk on the path paved by the contribution Catholicism has given for centuries, to enrich our cultural identity and religious diversity to which we belong. This great truth comes from a small nation and assumes a rare value in our troubled times.” Minister Kumbaro said.

Prime Minister Rama, while inviting people to visit this exhibition whose content is very significant, gave the news that during his visit to Albania, Pope Francis will bring specially for the National Library a copy of the Missal by Gjon Buzuku.

 

Speech by Prime Minister Rama given at the opening of the exhibition – “Catholicism and Culture” at the National Library:

Good evening to all! I apologize for this late hour but it is nor deliberate, neither an expression of lack of attention to you. I do not want to prolong too much since I believe that the Minister of Culture conveyed the essence of the bouquet the new Director of the National Library has prepared on the occasion of the Pope’s visit.

I want to wish the new director success and I hope that by opening the doors of the library and embarking on this path as  director of the Library, along with this surprise bouquet, she will be  a very good omen for taking further the work started long ago in the National Library and, simultaneously, for opening a new page in the history of this library, which I believe speaks about the obligation that we have towards loyal readers to have better hall and reading rooms, the same as the entire treasure of the National Library deserves to receive a better treatment.

On the other hand I believe that this is the right place to tell you first, as loyal readers of library, the news that I believe will make you happy. I took advantage from the contact I had with the Pope to ask him for the National Library a faithful copy, digitalized with the best technology, of the “Missal”  by Gjon Buzuku. We have received confirmation that the Pope will come with this unique copy of the Missal by Gjon Buzuku, which will be added to our National Library. In order to not take any more of your time, so that you can enjoy the bouquet prepared by the director of the library, let me conclude by thanking especially all of you who are here today. At the same time, since the media are here as well, I wish that others will come and see this exhibition which is as modest in size as significant in its content and whose message is so striking since it comes from a remote time for an inalienable belonging to these areas, to a faith that has made Albania a European country where Muslims and Christians live in harmony, a European country where people all together believe in the values and principles that belong to that part of the world where the sun rises and sets.

Thank you!