Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama met today Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican. The visit falls on the 30-year anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Albania and the Vatican.

Rama was accompanied by his wife and son. Albania’s foreign minister Olta Xhacka was also present.

During his stay at the Holy See, Rama placed flowers at the tomb of Pope Clement XI, who was of Albanian descent.

Born 23 July 1649 in Urbino, Giovanni Francesco Albani was the first offspring of Carlo Albani and Elena Mosca. The Albani was a noble family of Albanian descent, while his mother Elena belonged to the family of the Marquesses of Mosca of Pesaro, of ancient origin from Lombardy.

On Friday, PM Rama gave Cardinal Pietro Parolin the Big Cordon with a Star for Public Acknowledgment in line with the anniversary of diplomatic relations.

“For centuries, the Catholic Church has undertaken brotherly acts for our country. I would like to thank our brotherhood that for 30 years has been uniting in the international arena the Holy See and the Republic of Albania”, Rama said.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin thanked Rama for the medal, adding that the papacy will continue to endorse religious dialogue in the integration path with European nations.

“This gesture recognizes what the Holy See is doing for Albania”, said the cardinal.

He also thanked Albania for sheltering Afghan evacuees, as “an example to all Europe”.