Today, the Holy Father Francis received in audience His Excellency Mr. Bajram Begaj, President of the Republic of Albania, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.

During the course of the cordial talks, which took place at the Secretariat of State, appreciation was expressed for the positive bilateral relations, and mention was also made of some open questions in the relations between Church and State.

Attention then turned to the Albania’s path to membership of the European Union and on various international issues, with a focus on the Western Balkans region and the conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

From the Vatican, 6 May 2024