Vatican State Secretary Comes to Kosovo

The Catholic Church in the country views this visit as an opportunity for a change in attitude regarding the recognition of state independence. In a proposal for Express, Bishop's vikar Don Lush Gjergji gives details about the visit.

The second man of the Catholic Church, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will stay in Kosovo this weekend.

The Vatican State Secretary, whom many see as the next pope, is expected to participate in two Masses in Pristina and Prizren during his stay in Kosovo. In Kosovo, they hope his visit will also bring political messages that could affect Kosovo's recognition by the Vatican.

The Kosovo Archbishop General-General Don Lus Gjergji has announced that this visit comes after the announcement of the Pope's decree for Bishop Prizren and Pristina.

His visit has been public, and the Pope's apostolic delegate, where the Pope's decree to declare the Prizren-Pristina Archbishop has been made public. Cardinal Pietro Palolin comes for a visit after the announcement, and it will also be the resurface of the old cathedral that has been repaired in Pristina”, he said.

According to Don Lus Gjergjit, he will come to Kosovo on an early Saturday, until Sunday he will have Mass at the Mother Terezès in Pristina, as well as Prizren, until Monday he leaves Kosovo.

But how much it can bring any message from the Vatican for recognising Kosovo's independence. Don Lush Jon hopes for new developments.

“It is a gesture itself to establish administration at the Iphekvik level itself the arrival of the new apostolic delegate itself to the coming of the church's second personality speak naturally of good relations and the will for new developments”, he stated.

Otherwise two months ago at the Vatican, Pope Francescu has named the new Apostolic Nunc for Kosovo, Monsignor Jean-Marie.

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj had written that condemning the Diocese Pristina Prizren, the representatives' high-level appointments are indications of advancing reports between Kosovo and Vatican.

And Vatican State Secretary Cardinal Parolin has visited Serbia last year, and it also discussed the Kosovo issue. The State Secretary had met with Serbian Patriarch Irinej, with whom he had addressed the Kosovo issue. Irinej had praised the Vatican's position over Kosovo's non-recognition.

The Vatican State Secretary's meeting with the Irinej Priory was held on June 30th of last year. The same day, Parolin met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq and Serbia's Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic.

Parolin demanded that through dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade a solution and compromise be reached for Kosovo with the goal of protecting peace and stability, adding that the Vatican is particularly following the situation in the region and dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, stressing that protection of cultural and religious heritage in Kosovo is of particular importance to the Council.