President of the Republic, Ilir Meta participated this Wednesday in the inauguration ceremony of the bust of Pope St. John Paul II in Tirana. 

During his speech, Meta describes Pope St. John Paul II as the "Pope of freedom" and emphasizes that the Pope has enabled liberation from the plague of communism. 

According to Meta, Enver Hoxha was worse than Stalin regarding the persecution against religion, but thanks to the leadership of the Pope, Albania returned to the path of freedom and God, in which it will continue forever.

"I am honored to participate today in the ceremony of placing on the premises of the Catholic University 'Lady of Good Counsel', the bust of Pope John Paul II, this icon of freedom of religion of peoples around the world. 

His Holiness, Pope John Paul II will be remembered as the Pope who kept alive the hopes and faith in God among the peoples of Eastern Europe, as well as influenced the fall of communist dictatorships in this part of our continent. 

His unforgettable visit to Albania in 1993 was a great blessing and a signal of hope for a better future and faith in God, for the country that had just been liberated from the fiercest communist yoke. 

We Albanians will always be grateful to him, also for his role in supporting the Saint and our national icon, Mother Teresa, on this 110th anniversary of her birth," President said.