‘No extra security for Pope in Albania’

Published Sep 15, 2014

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Vatican City -

The Vatican says it's not taking any extra security measures to protect Pope Francis during his upcoming trip to majority Muslim Albania despite reports of Islamic militants returning from the Mideast.

Vatican spokesman the Reverend Federico Lombardi said on Monday that Francis would use the same open-topped vehicle he uses in St Peter's Square when he greets crowds in Tirana on Sunday.

Francis has said he wanted to visit Albania to highlight the rebirth of Christianity that was wiped out during communist rule, and to showcase how Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims are working together to govern the country.

Lombardi said that while there is general concern about the Islamic State threat, “there are no specific threats or risk that would change the pope's behaviour or the way the trip is organised.” - Sapa-AP

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