Religion

rug

(82,333 posts) Mon Jun 16, 2014, 01:38 PM Jun 2014

Pope Francis chooses Albania for his European visit

Vatican says pontiff wanted his first trip in Europe to be to a country with a past of persecution and continuing poverty

Reuters in Vatican City
Sunday 15 June 2014 13.53 EDT

Pope Francis has said his first trip to a European country will be to Albania in September to pay tribute to those who suffered under communism.

He will make a day trip to Tirana, the capital of one of Europe's poorest countries, on 21 September, he told pilgrims and tourists in St Peter's Square.

The Vatican spokesman said the pope wanted his first trip in Europe to be to a "country on the margins" with a past of social and religious persecution and continuing poverty.

Former dictator Enver Hoxha proclaimed Albania – for decades one of the world's most isolated countries – the world's first atheist state in 1967. Many mosques, churches and religious libraries were destroyed and imams and priests were arrested.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jun/15/pope-francis-visit-albania

8 replies

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Pope Francis chooses Albania for his European visit (Original Post) rug Jun 2014 OP

Good for him. okasha Jun 2014 #1

I was there. Porcupine! rug Jun 2014 #2

It's a haunting okasha Jun 2014 #3

That's when I was there. His name was Frank Fools Crow, wasn't it? rug Jun 2014 #4

You were there during the uprising? okasha Jun 2014 #5

Yes, I went out with the Fellowship of Reconciliation to backpack supplies in. rug Jun 2014 #6

No wonder the keyboard warriors are allergic to you! okasha Jun 2014 #7

Wow! Would love to hear more about this one day. cbayer Jun 2014 #8

okasha

(11,573 posts)

1. Good for him.

Reply to rug (Original post)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 05:59 PM

Jun 2014

When he schedules a North American visit, I hope Pine Ridge Reservation wiill be on his itenerary. He seems to be looking for opportunities to align his papacy not only with the poor but with peoples who have borne the specific horrors of genocide and dispossession.

rug

(82,333 posts)

2. I was there. Porcupine!

Reply to okasha (Reply #1)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 06:04 PM

Jun 2014

okasha

(11,573 posts)

3. It's a haunting

Reply to rug (Reply #2)

Mon Jun 16, 2014, 11:17 PM

Jun 2014

and heartbreaking place. Porcupine was the birthplace of the spiritual leader of the 1973 uprising, Grandpa Fools Crow.

rug

(82,333 posts)

4. That's when I was there. His name was Frank Fools Crow, wasn't it?

Reply to okasha (Reply #3)

Tue Jun 17, 2014, 01:19 AM

Jun 2014

okasha

(11,573 posts)

5. You were there during the uprising?

Reply to rug (Reply #4)

Tue Jun 17, 2014, 11:51 AM

Jun 2014

I wish I had been, but was out of the country at the time.

Yes, his English name was Frank Fools Crow. In Lakota he was called Wanblee Mato, Eagle Bear.

rug

(82,333 posts)

6. Yes, I went out with the Fellowship of Reconciliation to backpack supplies in.

Reply to okasha (Reply #5)

Tue Jun 17, 2014, 12:14 PM

Jun 2014

But, since it was a pacifist group, I wouldn't backpack in with a rifle. So I just stayed in Porcupine. There was a very moving funeral ceremony there for Buddy Lamont who was killed near the end of the occupation. One of the women who came out with us was a nun. I forget who was leading the ceremony but he asked for a virgin to step forward to lead the procession. Mature as I was, I looked at her with a stupid smirk. She looked at me, muttered "shit" and stepped forward. Despite my inanity, it was the most gentle and solemn funeral I ever witnessed.

okasha

(11,573 posts)

7. No wonder the keyboard warriors are allergic to you!

Reply to rug (Reply #6)

Tue Jun 17, 2014, 02:45 PM

Jun 2014

You're the real thing.

What you and the other members of the Fellowship did was dangerous and courageous. Thank you.

cbayer

(146,218 posts)

8. Wow! Would love to hear more about this one day.

Reply to rug (Reply #6)

Tue Jun 17, 2014, 02:50 PM

Jun 2014

Thank you.

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