Pope Leo XIV and Orthodox Church leaders congratulate Archbishop of Albania on his name day

Archbishop Ioannis of Tirana, Durrës and All Albania received congratulatory messages from Pope Leo XIV, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and several other Orthodox Church leaders on the occasion of his name day, celebrated on September 26, 2026.

The celebrations took place at the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Tirana, while Church leaders from around the world conveyed their congratulations and expressed appreciation for Archbishop Ioannis’s ministry as Primate of the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Albania.

In his congratulatory letter, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew praised Archbishop Ioannis’s pastoral ministry, describing him as a “compassionate spiritual father” and a “wise helmsman” guiding the Church. He also extended his wishes for good health, long life, spiritual joy and God’s blessings upon his ministry.

Messages of congratulations were also sent by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, Patriarch Daniel of Romania, representatives of the Patriarchate of Georgia, Archbishop Georgios of Cyprus and Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece, among others.

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