Albanian Archbishop discusses peace restoration in flashpoints with the Pope

Pope Leo and Archbishop Ioannis. Photo: Press Service of the Albanian Church

On October 31, 2025, Archbishop Ioannis of Albania met with Pope Leo in Rome. The historic meeting took place as a private audience following the Primate’s participation in the international gathering “Dare for Peace” (Osare la pace), organized by the Sant’Egidio Community.

The central topic of their conversation was the importance of restoring peace and ending wars that afflict the modern world. Pope Leo and Archbishop Ioannis discussed a range of shared concerns regarding the Church’s role in fostering peace amid ongoing global tensions.

Particular attention during the meeting was given to the youth, who, as both leaders highlighted, are not only the future but also the present of society. The spiritual leaders underscored the need to care for the younger generation in this era of upheaval.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the Albanian Primate had discussed the situation in Ukraine with the Chairman of the ROC Department for External Church Relations.

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