Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes some unknown documents extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, which belong to 1990, where there is a correspondence of the Albanian embassy in Rome, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, where the Albanian ambassador , Dashnor Dervishi, informs Minister Reiz Malile and his other superiors in Tirana, regarding the letter sent to that diplomatic mission by the Vatican Secretary of State, Archbishop, Angelo Sodano, who expressed the desire to come to Albania himself , in order to meet the former Catholic priest, Monsignor Nikola Troshani, who after spending years in the prisons of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, at that time was working in agriculture in the villages of the district of Lezha. Full correspondence between the Albanian embassy in Rome and the top officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, where in addition to the great interest shown by the Vatican for the former Bishop, Nikola Troshani with whom they had lost all contact since time of his imprisonment and did not know if he was still alive, as well as the congratulations to the Albanian government for the reception he gave to Mother Teresa, Ambassador Dervish informs his superiors that the two professors of Theology at the University of Rome, Andrea Ricardo and Damako at the University of Bari, had been told that: The Vatican was showing great interest in developments in Albania and its activity in the international arena, where in particular the Holy See was expressing interest in Albania’s integration into the CSCE and was intervening closely Western European governments to support its accession to the CSCE before the Helsinki Conference, etc., and to the efforts of the Vatican’s Eastern European countries, Kolosuono, who had confirmed that the Vatican had prepared forty Albanian bishops from Kosovo in schools in Rome and was preparing to establish a Pristina-based diogenesis, which would depend directly on Rome.
Starting from the long ordeal of almost 45 years of the Catholic Clergy in Albania under the dictatorial regime of Enver Hoxha, where dozens of clergymen were shot (with and without trial), imprisoned and interned, as well as the change of political climate in most of former communist countries of Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall, where as a result official Tirana in May 1990 enacted the law on freedom of religion, the Holy See of the Vatican headed by Pope John Paul II, through the Secretary of the Vatican City State, Archbishop Angelo Sordano, as well as its diplomats accredited in various countries of the world, immediately began to “move the stones” to enter into talks with the government of Tirana, which initially asked for information about the former the Catholic priest, Monsignor Nikola Troshani, as they had lost all contact with him since the time of his imprisonment and did not know if he was still alive! Among other things, this is made known by a series of archival documents extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where there is a voluminous file with the correspondence of the Albanian Embassy in Rome with his superiors in Tirana, which Memorie.al e publishes for the first time to its readers, in several issues of the historical dossier section.
Letter from the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Archbishop, Angelo Sodano, sent on December 15, 1990, to the Catholic priest, Monsignor Nikola Troshani, who worked in agriculture in the district of Lezha
His Excellency
Monsignor NIKOLLA TROSHANI
The titled Bishop of Cisamos
Apostolic Administrator of Durrës and Lezha
Albania
SECRETARIAT OF STATE
No. 7956/90 / RS From the Vatican, December 15, 1990
Your Excellency,
On the solemn anniversary of the birth of our Lord Jesus, I have the happy occasion to address Your Excellency with this letter. The one who writes to you is the new pro-Secretary of State, Archbishop Angelo Sodano, called a few days ago by the faith of the Holy Father Pope John II, to replace His Highness, Cardinal Agustino Casaroli.
His Highness the Pope has entrusted me with the honorable task of conveying to You, the paternal and heartfelt expression of His fervent greetings, for the pastoral mission of Your Excellency. This is a task that, at the beginning of my ministry, I perform with great diligence, not without supplication when I think that a large part of Your existence has gone through suffering, innumerable humiliations, but faced with great courage, thanks to love for Christ and for your Holy Church.
In the course of these years of severe trial, the Holy Father, more than once, has raised his voice to be heard by all Your sons of Albania, full participation in their painful sufferings and His “constant shock”, (Rome, April 27, 1987) about the events of that (…) Heroic Church (….), Tormented by a long and severe persecution, but enriched by the testimony of its martyrs: bishops, priests, religious, religious, believers (…) (Otranto, October 5, 1980), without ceasing to seek God Almighty, peace and tranquility for the entire Albanian nation.
Even in my words, Your Excellency, you can find another sign of remembrance, gratitude of this Apostolic See, for those like you, without hesitation to follow in the footsteps and example of the suffering Christ, (1. Pt.2,21 ), have made it possible for the light of faith not to be extinguished on Albanian soil.
I will be very grateful; you’re Excellency, if in replying to this letter, you would kindly use the same channel that I used to get in touch with Your Excellency. This is the personal channel of the Ambassador of Tirana, in Rome, who has generously offered to convey to you, this letter and to transmit to me as soon as possible the answer of Your Excellency.
His Holiness, the Pope, expects not without great concern, to have clear assurances on the state of health of Your Excellency and the conditions of Your life, and wants to know directly from You, what auspicious evolution may be outlined , with motivated hope, for the future of the Church in Albania.
I also know that the information and announcements that you will send to the Holy See are useful for Your fellow Priests, who continue to cooperate with Your Excellency in fulfilling Your mission, serving the Catholic community in that Nation.
The Holy Father also intends to repeat to Your Excellency, His wish, already expressed and sent to you, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Priesthood, sending you once again His apostolic blessings.
With a deep and intimate joy I also send you, Your Excellency, the warmest wishes, that Christmas Day will give you light and peace and I trust the Virgin of Shkodra, Padron of Albania, the hope that in the blessed year 1991, the day will come when that Church can find the long-awaited freedom.
Reiterating your warmest wishes and all the best, I have the honor to confirm them.
Your Excellency
My devotion to Christ
Angelo Sodano Archbishop
The report of the Albanian Ambassador to Rome, Dashnor Dervishi, sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, for the letter that the Vatican Secretary of State, Archbishop Angelo Sodano, requested to send to the Catholic priest, Monsignor Nikola Trashani, the former Bishop for a time he lived in the villages of the district of Lezha
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Embassy – Rome Rome, on 22.12.1990
No.948
Subject: Letter from the Vatican MFA to Nikola Troshani
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(First Directorate)
Tirana
Together we forward the letter of Angelo Sodano, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Vatican, addressed to Bishop Nikolle Troshani.
The letter was brought to the embassy by Andrea Ricardi, a professor of theology at the University of Rome.
Along with the occasional assessments of the process of democratization of life in Albania, Andrea Ricardi, stressed the fact that the Vatican does not want to establish secret ties with the Catholic faithful in Albania, so as he is sending this letter, he proposes that the correspondence continue through diplomatic channels.
Ambassador
Dashnor Dervishi
Note
Attached is the photocopy of the letter that the Vatican Foreign Minister, Angelo Sodano, sends to Nikola Troshani.
The letter was delivered to our embassy in Rome by Andrea Ricardi, Professor of Theology at the University of Rome.
The latter told our comrades that “the Vatican does not want to establish secret relations with the Catholic faithful in Albania, therefore, as it is sending this letter, it proposes that the correspondence be continued through diplomatic channels.”
Tirana, December 24, 1990
The report of the Albanian Ambassador, Dashnor Dervishi in Rome, sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, regarding the message on the occasion of the New Year, sent by Pope John Paul II, through his representative in FAO
EMBASSY OF THE SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC
OF ALBANIA IN ROME
Rome on 12 January 1990
No.23
Subject: Pope Pauli II New Year Message
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(First Directorate)
TIRANA
Attached we send you, according to your order for such materials, the New Year message of Pope Paul II, sent by the Permanent Representative to FAO, our Permanent Representative to this organization.
Ambassador
(Dashnor Dervishi)
Telegram of the Albanian Ambassador in Rome, Dashnor Dervishi, sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, for the interest shown by the Vatican regarding the changes in the legislation and the Criminal Code in Albania and to the religious beliefs, who demanded that it be sanctioned in Constitution
DECRIMINATION
No. 17807 By: Rome
No. 944 Date: sixth
In Turkey and Bulgaria, as well as in Bosnia, which are narrowing their territory in the Balkans. In this regard, the report of the former nuncio in Belgrade was praised, when Giovanni Kalantuno, who before leaving Belgrade, during his visit to Pristina wrote that among Albanians, he found a generous hospitality despite the religions that…
(continued)
DECRIMINATION
No. 17808 By: Rome
No. 945 Date: seventh
..Represented and sought their support, at the risk of Serbia’s denationalizing force, towards its church. According to the Albanian journalist on Italian radio, Albert Akshija, who has made a valuable contribution to the above, the Vatican has praised the removal of the article on religion from the criminal code. But in recent days, different forces ……
(continued)
DECRIMINATION
No. 17809 By: Rome
No. 946 Data: the eighth
…. Have expressed doubts about this action. Various sources have informed that in Shkodra, after the excesses that took place at the beginning of the year, they were convicted under the pretext of agitation and religious propaganda. Therefore in different ways from Albania will be required….
(continued)
DECRIMINATION
No. 17810 By: Roma
No.947 Date: ninth
… .That the action taken in the Criminal Code for religion be reflected in the constitution. At the same time, a priest will be required to be in charge of religious services and the diplomatic corps, without interfering in internal affairs, will inform about the human rights situation in Albania.
(continued)
DECRIMINATION
No. 17811 By: Roma
No. 948 Date: last
In the Vatican’s attitude towards Albania, an important role was played by Monsignor Fortino, former Nuncio in Belgrade, Giovanni Calantino, who is the right wing of the Pope, for the problems of Eastern Europe and who is currently the Nuncio of the Vatican in Moscow.
Dashi
The telegram of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tirana, sent to the Albanian ambassador in Rome, Dashnor Dervishi, regarding the request of the Italian ambassador to Albania, De Andreis, to meet with Nikola Troshani and to give him the letter with the autograph of Pope John Paul II
Coding
No. 2293 Date: 23.6.1990
Address: Embassy in Rome
Concept: Today, the Italian ambassador De Andreis, requested a meeting at the ministry and stressed that he was charged to seek permission from the Albanian side, that he or any other embassy employee, to meet with the Catholic priest, Troshani, who lives in a village of Lezha . To him, they had to submit a autograph of a blessing from the Pope, for his advanced age. We replied to the ambassador that we do not understand why he undertakes such a thing.
Coding
No. 2294 Date: 23.6.1990
Address: Embassy of Rome
Concept: The permission requested by the Italian ambassador to meet with the priest, Troshani, to give him an autograph of the Pope, will be left in silence. But if the Italian ambassador asks for an answer, we will tell him that if the Vatican has anything to do with him, let him convey it to us through our embassy in Rome. They are transmitting something to you from the Vatican, take it and keep notes.
Coding
No.2331 Data 27/6/1990
Address: Embassy of Rome
Concept: As we have informed you, the Italian ambassador wants to meet with the priest Troshana, to give him an autograph. We will leave this request in silence, but if the Italian ambassador asks for an answer, we will tell him that, if the Vatican has anything, you can forward it to us through our embassy in Rome.
If something was transmitted to you from the Vatican, take it and find out that we are keeping notes.
26. 6. 1990 Reiz Malile
Coding
No. 2402 Date: 27/6/1990
Address: Embassy of Rome
Concept: Italian Ambassador De Andreis, again asked permission to meet with the priest Troshani, to give him the autograph and the blessing of the Pope. We told the ambassador that if the Vatican had anything to do with him, he should communicate to him through our embassy in Rome.
No. 2787/2788 Date: 31.7.1990
Address: Embassy of Rome
Concept: Yours no. 2225
Regarding the efforts of the Vatican and the reaction of the Arbëresh to link the Kosovar emigration around them for their interests, on your part, to make complete information to see to what extent the influence of the above circles extends to this emigration, what platform or centers have? /Memorie.al
The next issue follows
