Soon we will experience the event of the year--if not the century--for
Albanians all over the world. For more than twenty years, the Albanian nation
seems to have been in the hearts and minds of the Popes. It is amazing that two
of the last three popes have made it a priority to visit Albania. Now Pope
Francis is about to meet and greet Albanians in their homeland and will reach
tens of thousands more around the globe via live streaming. He will be received
with true joy and love, as well as with tears and open hearts. The world will
witness the spirit of this small, vibrant nation whose roots are in the Balkans
and has many sons and daughters around the globe.
This upcoming papal visit is a signal of hope, faith, and love not just
to Albanians but to the entire world. It is especially important in current
times when we see so much despair, poverty, ideological and political war,
marginalization, and the breaking up of families. The very thread of the fabric
of society is endangered when abortion is a commodity and when marriage is
considered an inconvenience.
Popes have appreciated the resilience of the Albanian nation. Although
it has experienced difficult times it has survived. As small as it is, this
nation that has suffered and lost so much, has also been blessed. Albanians
keep their families together, they thrive in community, they are hospitable and
friendly, joyful and hardworking, warriors and entertainers, and above all,
many are very godly people. Albania has given the world Mother Teresa , George
Kastrioti Scanderbeg, and many other important people.
When the Ottomans occupied their lands, Albanians stood strong and kept
them at bay for a while. Although the occupation seemed to last forever,
Albanian kept their identity, spoke their language, sang their songs and
ballads, and never forgot God, their creator.
Then communism came, a beast of immeasurable dimensions, and through the
iron fist did the unthinkable. Growing up during that period, my generation of
Albanians can testify to what happened to many. It is sad that some embraced
that ideology. There is still no true reconciliation because of a lack of
individual reconciliation between some people and God. Unless that
individual reconciliation takes place, all of the fake smiles and fake words,
all of the pompous behavior and shiny shows, which are not from God, will fall
away.
That is a sorrow that my generation and that of my parents have to this
day. Not only because it is a matter of justice (which is due) but also out of
love for every Albanian whose eternal destiny might be at risk. This
papal visit is an opportunity that should not be missed, either on a personal
or a societal level.
In that light, I hope that the joy that the visit, generated by God
almighty, and reflected in the loving and humble pontiff and many holy priests,
sisters, religious and lay people, will soften the hearts of every one. I
hope and pray that this visit stirs in the hearts of people the desire to
repent and seek forgiveness, the desire to cleanse the deep wounds caused by
vices and sin, and allows them to be blessed with the grace of the Almighty and
have hope in divine providence.
May the conversion of hearts take place and the Albanian people seek and
embrace the truth, which they can encounter in a practical and special way this
Sunday.
As for
the Albanian martyrs of the Church, we all should rejoice in them. May their
blood, which is joined in the suffering of our Lord and Redeemer, be the
offering through which the Albanian nation can hope to be redeemed
Welcome
to Albania Pope Francis!
You are loved!
*Merita
McCormack serves as the President of " VATRA-Washington DC Regional
Chapter"