On 21 March, Ambassador Palumbo paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Monsignor Giovanni Peragine, Apostolic Administrator of Southern Albania, a territory that encompasses more than half of Albania, corresponding to 60 per cent of the entire country.

In the archdiocese of Valona, Monsignor Peragine spoke with the Ambassador of the Order of Malta on various topics, including the Catholic reality in the south of the country, which is showing a slow but constant awakening of conversions. The Catholic community always represents a minority, even deeper in the south where today we can count around 3,000 Catholics. These communities scattered across this vast territory have come into being thanks to the presence of missionaries over more than 25 years and their great work of evangelisation.

The visit ended with Ambassador Palumbo’s participation in the Easter concert organised by the Diocese of Southern Albania in the Petro Marko Theatre in Vlora. The music of the Stabat Mater (Pergolesi & Vivaldi) performed by Soprano Simona Karafili and Demi Contralto Anita Kërhani, was conducted by Harlen Nikolli of the Musica Nova Chamber Orchestra.