The beatification ceremony of 38 martyrs of the Catholic Church gathered on Saturday, at Saint Shtjefn Cathedral in Shkodra the highest Vatican authorities, state authorities and thousands representatives of religious communities in Albania. The Holy Mass started at 10:00 a.m. and was attended even by over 10,000 pilgrims.

The parish priest of Shkodra, Dom Arthur Jaku said that the atmosphere before the ceremony is warm and people have started coming from different countries of the world.

“We are talking about 38 witness martyrs of religion and nation, which now will not only belong to Albania, but are universal. They will prove that Albania is a nation that has so much to give to Europe and the world,” he said.

Moreover, the Archbishop of Potenza visiting Shkodra on the occasion of the Holy Mass, Monsignor Salvatore Logorio said that with the beatification of 38 martyrs Albania rediscovers its identity.

Pope Francis officially recognized as martyrs archbishop Vincens Prenushi and 37 other priests who died in prison or were murdered in 1945-1974 by the late communist dictator Enver Hoxha’s regime.

Hoxha’s regime banned religion in 1967 and persecuted its leaders and believers.

During Francis’ visit to Tirana in 2014, big posters of the 38 clerics were placed along the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard in Tirana.

Francis held up Albania, with a majority of Muslims and also with Orthodox and Catholic communities, as a model for interfaith harmony.