Nunciature to Albania
Encyclopedia
The Albania-Holy See relations are foreign relations between Albania
and the Holy See
. The Holy See has an Apostolic Nunciature
in Albania which represents diplomatically the Holy See
. The representative is officially called Apostolic Nuncio
to Albania and has an ambassador
status. The office of the nunciature is located in Tirana
.
on 12 November 1920, and was elevated to the full rank
of a nunciature by Pope John Paul II
on 16 January 1991. The current Apostolic Nuncio to Albania is His Excellency
Ramiro Moliner Inglés, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
on 26 July 2008 upon the retirement of Archbishop
John Bulaitis
.
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. The Holy See has an Apostolic Nunciature
Apostolic Nunciature
An Apostolic Nunciature is a top-level diplomatic mission of the Holy See, equivalent to an embassy.The head of the Apostolic Nunciature is called nuncio. A nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin nuntius, meaning messenger...
in Albania which represents diplomatically the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. The representative is officially called Apostolic Nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
to Albania and has an ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
status. The office of the nunciature is located in Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
.
History
The Apostolic Nunciature in Albania started as an apostolic delegation to Albania by Pope Benedict XVPope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV , born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, reigned as Pope from 3 September 1914 to 22 January 1922...
on 12 November 1920, and was elevated to the full rank
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
of a nunciature by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
on 16 January 1991. The current Apostolic Nuncio to Albania is His Excellency
Excellency
Excellency is an honorific style given to certain members of an organization or state.Usually, people styled "Excellency" are heads of state, heads of government, governors, ambassadors, certain ecclesiastics, royalty, aristocracy, and military, and others holding equivalent rank .It is...
Ramiro Moliner Inglés, who was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on 26 July 2008 upon the retirement of Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
John Bulaitis
John Bulaitis
John Bulaitis was the Roman Catholic Apostolic Nuncio to Albania.Born in London, United Kingdom, Bulaitis was ordained a priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaišiadorys, Lithuania, in 1958...
.
List of Apostolic Delegates and Nuncios to Albania
- Ernesto Cozzi (1920 - 1926)
- Giovanni della Pietra, S.J.Society of JesusThe Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
(1927 - 1940) - Ildebrando AntoniuttiIldebrando AntoniuttiIldebrando Antoniutti was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Prefect of the Congregation for Religious from 1963 to 1973, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1962.-Biography:...
(1936 - 1938) - Ivan Dias (1991 - 1996)
- John BulaitisJohn BulaitisJohn Bulaitis was the Roman Catholic Apostolic Nuncio to Albania.Born in London, United Kingdom, Bulaitis was ordained a priest for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kaišiadorys, Lithuania, in 1958...
(1997 - 2008) - Ramiro Moliner Inglés (2008 - present)