Pope Francis has begun his first official European visit, touching down in Albania on Sunday (21 September) morning.<br /><br />The pontiff was greeted by the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, when he touched down in Tirana for a one-day visit.<br /><br />The Vatican said the pope had selected the impoverished Balkan country – instead of one of the wealthier European nations – out of a desire to show his concern for people on the “margins”.<br /><br />The trip, including giving mass on Mother Teresa Square in central Tirana, aims to highlight and promote harmony between different religions.<br /><br />Catholicism has regained its place in predominantly Muslim, but largely secular, Albania.<br /><br />Under the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, Catholic priests were persecuted.Furthermore, Hoxha banned all religions in 1967 in attempt to create an atheist state.
