pope visit kosovo

The Geopost

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Analysis: Pope Francis visit to Kosovo is obstructed by Serbia

The issue that has been discussed for a long time is the visit of the head of the Vatican to Kosovo. The Pope has had the invitation to visit Kosovo at the Holy See for years! The invitation was submitted by all heads of state, former presidents Ibrahim Rugova, Hashim Thaçi, Atifete Jahjaga and finally by President Vjosa Osmani and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti. Unlike in the past, Pope Francis, when reporting on his visits to various countries in the Spanish magazine “Vida Nueva,” said, apart from his prayers for peace and prosperity in Kosovo: “We are working in Kosovo, but it is not defined.” “. This sufficiently measured and diplomatic expression was considered by the head of the Holy See as a notice and a promise that he would fulfill the wish of the invitees by visiting them and fulfill the historic will of the head of state of Kosovo for the papal visit.

Due to the fact that the Vatican has not yet recognized the Republic of Kosovo and the reports are not interpreted as interstate, the possible visit of Pope Francis to Prishtina, Prizren or elsewhere could be presented by the Vatican as a pastoral visit. However, official Prishtina could also portray it as a state in the hope that the Vatican would change its relationship with the Republic of Kosovo and recognize its independence. Even fifteen years after Kosovo’s independence, the Holy See has shown no signs that it will change its political course toward recognizing Kosovo as an independent state. On the other hand, official Prishtina has never ceased to seek Vatican approval and consent for this fact. Undoubtedly, the Republic of Serbia remains an obstacle!

When Pope Francis first spoke about his planned visit to “small countries” and Kosovo was mentioned, this did not go unnoticed in Belgrade. The attitude is still rejecting! The explanations are the same: “Kosovo is the holy Serbian land”. The relations between Serbia and the Holy See are official and interstate. The visits of Serbian heads of state to the Vatican have never been accompanied by an invitation to the Pope to visit Serbia.

When the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kurt Koch, was in Serbia for a three-day visit at the end of 2022, when asked about a visit of Pope Francis to Serbia, he replied that the Pope would not only like to visit, but would also like to visit “this beautiful place”. However, the guest explained that it is not just a matter of the Pope’s will, but that it must be preceded by an invitation, first from the government of Serbia, but given that Serbia is a country with an Orthodox majority, the invitation must also come from the Serbian Orthodox Church.

“It is my first meeting with His Holiness (Patriarch Profirije of Serbian Orthodox Church) and that is the main purpose of my visit: to meet him on behalf of the Catholic Church, to congratulate him on his enthronement and to wish him all the best”. , Cardinal Koch had stated at that time in Belgrade for the Tanjug news agency. He had also spoken about the relations between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Holy See, describing them as “very good and friendly”, expressing his personal will to deepen them even more.

These relations, described as “very good and friendly,” turn out to be quite problematic if one follows their course. In the last decades, the relations between Serbia and the Vatican were connected with many situations that led to extreme hostility. The portrayal of the Vatican and the Pope in Serbia is very poor. Serbian politicians accuse the Vatican of involvement in wars in the area of former Yugoslavia. Entire books were written by Serbian politicians and academics criticizing the Pope and the Vatican. Serbian Orthodox Church blamed the Holy See for the canonization of Croatian Cardinal Alojzi Stepinac, who was Archbishop of Zagreb from 1937 until his death. Stepinac was not crowned a cardinal until 1953. During Tito’s Yugoslavia, Cardinal Stepinac was accused and imprisoned as a collaborator with the Croatian Ustasha during the existence of the Croatian Independent State. Moreover, politicians and the Serbian Orthodox Church accuse the Vatican of the crimes in Jasenovac. It is these and other moments that shake these religious and state mechanisms that did not make possible the Pope’s arrival in Niš in 2013 on the occasion of the 1700th anniversary of the “Edict of Milan”.

Kosovo is the issue that also represents the turning point in Serbian Orthodox Church relations, in parallel with Serbia’s relations with the Holy See. As for the Pope’s “undefined work” in connection with the visit to Kosovo, the former Ambassador of Serbia to the Holy See, Darko Tanaskovic, tells the Serbian media that Pope Francis’ visit to Kosovo “would have repercussions without any doubt.” This would have extremely negative repercussions and would lead to stable and constructive intergovernmental and bilateral relations between Serbia and the Holy See. Sensitive, but also balanced dialogue between the churches between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church, as well as the general Orthodox-Catholic ecumenical dialogue, the state of which is very close to Pope Francis’ heart.” Ambassador Tnaskovic justifies his skepticism about the Pope’s visit by also mentioning the geopolitical circumstances in which it took place today. “It is difficult to find convincing reasons that the Pope, especially in the midst of the major Ukraine crisis, would question everything that was said in the interest of the visit by Albin Kurti and his group.” But in recent years, we in politics have empirically convinced ourselves of the correctness of the wisdom contained in the words, “Never say never…”. The ambassador urges that “Serbia and Serbian Orthodox Church, as much as it depends on them, should be proactive against unpleasant surprises.”

Pope Francis visit to Pristina, as well as the Vatican’s recognition of the Republic of Kosovo, would be appropriate in these geopolitical circumstances, where prayers for peace and prosperity would be at their best./The Geopost/

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As we enter a year filled with anticipation, a prevalent question surfaces: Will Pope Francis make a return to Argentina after a decade of his pontificate? This query resonates with many, as Pope Francis has often voiced his wish to revisit his homeland - a trip that would be his first as the pontiff. Despite this desire, health issues have been a concern, notably his influenza, which, while unrelated to his overall health that necessitated two surgeries in the past three years, led to the cancellation of his intended trip to Dubai for COP28.

In an interview with Televisa, Pope Francis has detailed plans for three potential trips in the upcoming year: to Argentina, Belgium for the 600th anniversary of the University of Louvain, and to Polynesia. Of these, the visit to Belgium is confirmed.

Polynesia emerges as an unexpected destination , having never been mentioned by the Pope previously, in contrast to his expressed interest in visiting Papua New Guinea. A trip incorporating Thailand was also under consideration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belgium, on the other hand, is a definitive stop . With preliminary announcements emanating from Brussels, the visit is slated for September, implying that a journey to Polynesia would likely be scheduled for the summer.

Meanwhile, Argentina might feature in the Pope's itinerary in the early months of the year . A notable occasion is the rescheduled canonization of Mamma Antula, Argentina's Spiritual Mother, now set for February 11 instead of May. While canonizations are typically held in Rome and presided over by the Pope, there is a possibility that Pope Francis may exceptionally conduct this ceremony in Buenos Aires. February or March are being considered as probable for this potential visit to Argentina.

The earlier speculation of a trip to Kosovo appears to have been dismissed. Kosovo, a state not recognized by the Holy See, was mentioned by the Pope in an interview with Vida Nueva prior to his journey to Mongolia.

An additional, highly symbolic visit has been proposed: Pope Francis has received an invitation to visit Vietnam, extended by the country's Government Committee for Religious Affairs . The invitation, sent to Santa Marta, encourages the Pope to witness firsthand the socio-economic progress and religious life in this Southeast Asian nation.

As per the committee, Vietnam's President Thuong has conveyed his and the country's seven million Catholics' eagerness to welcome the Pope. He noted the profound impression left by his encounters with Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his Vatican visit in July.

Significantly, on December 23, the Holy See appointed its first resident representative in Hanoi, marking a crucial step towards establishing full diplomatic relations.

Nonetheless, the number of Pope Francis's trips is expected to be no more than three.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa. 

Andrea Gagliarducci is an Italian journalist for Catholic News Agency and Vatican analyst for ACI Stampa. He is a contributor to the National Catholic Register.

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Belgrade archbishop, hopes for pope's visit to Serbia

• Link copiato
• Nuova Europa

BELGRADE , 01 aprile 2024, 15:52

Redazione ANSA

- RIPRODUZIONE RISERVATA

Relations between Serbia and the Vatican have never been so good since diplomatic relations were established, and a visit by Pope Francis to Belgrade would help further strengthen and intensify relations. This was stated by Monsignor Ladislav Nemet, Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade, who said that Serbia's failure to recognize Kosovo undoubtedly contributes to the situation. "In the relations between Serbia and the Holy See I see the dictatorship of common sense and reasonable behavior. I am sure that such relations can still improve," Nemet said in an interview with the Belgrade daily Politika.     "I have been to the Vatican and invited the pope first verbally and then in writing to visit Serbia" on the occasion of the centenary of the establishment of the Archdiocese of Belgrade, the archbishop added, noting that he had spoken with Serbian Orthodox Patriarch Porfirije and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic about it. The pontiff, he noted, has been very willing and happy about his possible visit to Serbia. "Last year, on his return from Lisbon, the pope said he also wanted to visit Kosovo," Nemet said. These days, however, he has been told by the Vatican that due to Pope Francis' health condition no visit can be promised. The archbishop said he is planning a visit to Rome in the coming days, and that he intends to talk about all this at the Vatican."If the state of Pope Francis' health does not allow it, we will certainly have a visit from a senior Vatican official," said the Belgrade archbishop, according to whom the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin may visit Serbia next September, representing the pope, for the centenary celebrations of the Belgrade archdiocese.        

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Pope announces flurry of diplomatic activity in coming months

(Credit: Vatican News.)

ROME – In a recent interview, Pope Francis either confirmed or announced a flurry of upcoming diplomatic initiatives focused on several of his key priorities, including the war in Ukraine, climate change and inter-faith relations, especially outreach to Islam.

The initiatives include:

• A looming visit by his personal envoy on the Ukraine conflict, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to Beijing, after previous stops in Kyiv, Moscow and Washington, D.C.
• The possibility of naming a permanent representative to act as a go-between with authorities in Ukraine and Russia.
• A meeting of religious leaders for peace in Abu Dhabi, ahead of the Nov. 30-Dec. 3 COP 28 summit on climate change in Dubai.
• A request to President Lula da Silva of Brazil to intercede with the government of Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua for the liberation of imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez.
• Plans for a papal trip to Kosovo.

The pope made the revelations in an Aug. 4 interview with the Spanish news platform Vida Nueva , on the occasion of its 65 th anniversary.

It had been widely expected that Zuppi, who serves as president of the Italian bishops’ conference, would made a trip to China after meeting U.S. President Joe Biden on July 18, and the pope confirmed that intention.

“After the visit of Cardinal Zuppi to Washington, the next expected step is Beijing, because both also hold the key to reducing tension in the conflict,” Francis said. “All these initiatives are what I call a ‘peace offensive’.”

The continuing press comes despite the fact that to date, neither side in the conflict has shown tremendous interest in the Vatican playing a mediator role, a point the pope conceded in describing Zuppi’s visits to date.

“He’s already gone to Kyiv, where they maintain the idea of victory without opting for mediation,” Francis said. In Russia, he said, Zuppi found “an attitude that we could define as ‘diplomatic.’”

The pope noted, however, that Zuppi did find some openness to the idea of a humanitarian role for the Vatican, especially in the return of children forcibly removed from eastern Ukraine by Russian forces, ostensibly for their protection.

“We’re doing everything that’s in our power to guarantee that any family member who requests the return of their children can do so,” he said.

In that context, the pope revealed his intention to name a permanent representative to Ukraine and Russia, at least at the beginning with a largely humanitarian focus.

“For me, in the middle of the pain of war, that’s a great step,” he said.

With regard to the idea of putting together an inter-faith assembly in Abu Dhabi, Francis said that project is being coordinated by Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State.

The choice of venue is significant, since it was there in February 2019 that the pontiff and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of the Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, signed the “Document on Human Fraternity” which served as a blueprint for the pope’s encyclical letter Fratelli Tutti one year later.

In the wake of the document, Abu Dhabi established a “Higher Committee on Human Fraternity” to promote its content, part of a broader project by the United Arab Emirates of establishing a profile as a proponent of religious tolerance. In February 2022, the Vatican established its first embassy in the country.

Although both Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI also convened summits of religious leaders, they took place in Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, and thus in a sense on Catholic territory.

In the Vida Nueva interview, Francis said that in this case the idea is to stage the event “outside the Vatican, in a neutral territory that invites everyone to meet.”

In part, the event will allow Parolin to extend the pope’s push on climate change and the environment, following his 2015 encyclical letter Laudato si’ . In context, however, it’s expected the religious leaders will also discuss other issues, including the war in Ukraine.

With regard to Nicaragua, it was widely speculated in late June, when Lula visited Pope Francis in the Vatican, that the pontiff had asked the Brazilian leader to intervene in the Álvarez case. Francis confirmed that point in the Vida Nueva interview, saying, “We’re continuing, we’re trying to negotiate.”

Álvarez is currently serving a 26-year prison sentence in Nicaragua, after the prelate rejected a deal in early July to go into permanent exile in Italy.

As for the trip to Kosovo, the pope said, “We are working on (the visit), but it has yet to be defined,” and did not offer a possible date. The announcement follows a June 22 meeting in the Vatican between Francis and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in which Kurti extended an invitation.

Assuming it happens, the papal trip would come at a time when tensions are flaring anew between ethnic Albanians, who make up the bulk of the country’s population, and the small Serbian minority, raising fears about a return to the violence of the late 1990s.

A landlocked nation of just 1.8 million, Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but it not recognized by Russia, China or Serbia, which would make the pope’s presence in the country another delicate diplomatic balancing act.

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Prishtina-Belgrade tensions/ Pope Francis plans to visit Kosovo soon

• 8/4/2023 10:49 AM

Pope Francis plans to travel to Kosovo soon. The Pope's visit to Pristina comes within the context of the situation between Kosovo and Serbia and the normalization of relations between the two countries.

"The next trips should be to Kosovo and Argentina. I will not go to any big European country until I am done with the little ones," said the Pope.

Pope Francis has not given details on the date of his trip to Kosovo, while we remember that the visit comes at the invitation of Prime Minister Albin Kurti. The latter, during the meeting at the Vatican on June 22 with Pope Francis, announced that he had invited the Holy Father to Pristina.

For his faith, Prime Minister Kurti said that politics is service, as he invited his Holiness, Pope Francis, to visit Kosovo, after a quick and good recovery from the recent surgical operation. They agreed to always be near and with the people who need love and justice. That was Prime Minister Kurti’s first official visit to the Vatican and his first meeting with the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

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Bush to visit Kosovo troops

ROME, Italy -- U.S. President George W. Bush will travel to Kosovo on Tuesday to visit U.S. troops stationed in the troubled province.

Bush will complete his six-day European visit by visiting Camp Bondsteel near Pristina, where some 5,000 U.S. troops serving with the NATO-led KFOR force are stationed.

U.N. and KFOR commanders are expected to brief him before he addresses the troops on the camp's parade grounds and dines with them.

The KFOR base is around 40 kilometres (25 miles) southeast of Pristina, capital of the southern Yugoslav province which is currently under U.N. administration after the Kosovo war of 1999.

Bush also plans to meet Hans Haekkerrup, the U.N. administrator of Kosovo, for talks on progress in solving the province's problems, The Associated Press reported.

Amid questions over whether Bush would pull U.S. troops out of the Balkans, he has assured Europeans that the United States will continue to work side by side with international peacekeepers where needed.

During his visit to Rome on Monday, Bush said during a news conference that he has assured Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi: "America came into the Balkans with our friends, and we will leave with our friends."

The U.S. president received strong backing from Berlusconi over his plans to develop a missile defence shield. The Italian premier said other European governments should also recognise the importance of the national missile defence (NMD) proposal.

He urged Russia to support the plan, saying he agreed that there was a need for new responses to military threats facing the United States, Europe and even Russia required new responses.

He said: "We will always be next to the United States in order to take part in this discussion, going well beyond the attitudes of certain European states which still today have not in my opinion understood how the world has changed and how we should start worrying about the future."

Bush has met with resistance from America's other European allies and Russia and China over the proposals, which opponents say would threaten the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty.

The two leaders earlier lunched privately at a palazzo in the Villa Doria Pamphili park in Rome.

Bush had earlier met Pope John Paul II and he said he would take the pope's rejection of stem cell research using embryos into consideration when he decides whether to allow funding for the controversial practice.

"He's sent a consistent word throughout the Church, and throughout society, that we ought to take into account the preciousness of life," Bush said at the press conference with Berlusconi.

John Paul II had addressed the issue of stem cell research using embryos at a press conference after the 35-minute meeting with Bush at the pontiff's summer home, Castel Gandolfo, south of the Italian capital

"A free and virtuous society which America aspires to be must reject practices that devalue and violate human life at any stage of conception until natural death," the pope said.

"In defending the right to life ... America can show the world ... (that) man remains the master not the product of his technology."

Bush in turn expressed his admiration for the pontiff. "Where there is oppression you speak of human rights, where there is poverty you speak of justice and hope," he said.

"Where there is ancient hatred, you defend and display a tolerance that reaches beyond every boundary of race and nation and belief."

Later, at the press conference with Berlusconi, Bush said that John Paul had not raised stem cell research during their private session, but had instead focused on foreign policy and Bush's meeting on Sunday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

But he added that his decision on whether to grant federal funding for embryonic stem cell research is the most difficult choice he has to make, because of the dilemma between moral issues of creating human embryos to produce stem cells and the promise from doctors and scientists the research will save human lives.

He expressed his respect for the pope's stand, saying: "I frankly do not care what the political polls say. I do care about the opinions of people, particularly someone as profound as the Holy Father."

The trip to Rome was the third stop on Bush's tour following a visit to London and his visit to the G8 summit in Genoa, Italy. He is accompanied by his wife, First Lady Laura Bush, and their daughter Barbara, 19.

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Pope Francis has announced a visit to the Republic of Kosovo.

This is what he said in an interview for the Spanish magazine Vida Nueva, published today, reports Klankosova.tv

"We are working on a visit to Kosovo, but it has not been set," said Pope Francis.

Among other things, he said that he plans to visit Argentina and Uruguay.

He gave this last interview in Lisbon, Portugal, on World Youth Day.

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Visit by Pope Francis Helps Put North Macedonia on the Map

By Barbara Surk

• May 7, 2019

SKOPJE, North Macedonia — With its bitter naming dispute with Greece finally settled and NATO membership expected by the end of the year , North Macedonia on Tuesday received another sign that its nearly three decades of international isolation are ending: the country’s first papal visit.

At a gathering with senior government figures, Pope Francis praised North Macedonia as “a bridge between the East and West,” said that its history of diversity would serve it well in a closer relationship with European nations. He also expressed hope that “integration will develop in a way that is beneficial for the entire Western Balkans.”

The country declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 as the Republic of Macedonia, but its diplomatic aspirations were long blocked by neighboring Greece, which considered that name a potential claim to its own northern province. Both sides agreed to the name North Macedonia this year as part of a deal to normalize relations and potentially to ease the country’s path into the European Union.

Not all of those at the gathering shared the pope’s enthusiasm for these developments. President Gjorge Ivanov, who represents a conservative party that considers the name deal treasonous, told the pope that his visit had come at the time of “great divisions” in the country, which he referred to as the Republic of Macedonia.

Mr. Ivanov is days from leaving office, however, having reached his term limit. His successor, Stevo Pendarovski, who was elected on Sunday , is an avid supporter of the name deal.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev sounded determinedly upbeat about the papal visit. “There is joy all around, and hope after we showed courage in our decisions,” he said. “We can show that we can get along with everyone, and the pope can give us encouragement to be better people.”

Francis also received a warm welcome from the Macedonian Orthodox Church representative, Metropolitan Timothy.

The Macedonian Orthodox Church became autonomous in 1967, when Macedonia was part of socialist Yugoslavia. The Serbian Orthodox Church has shunned it ever since, and other churches have followed suit.

“The Catholic Church has always recognized that our church has suffered a historical and cultural injustice with continued refusal to recognize our autonomy,” Metropolitan Timothy told the local news media on the eve of the pope’s visit. The Vatican “lends us support in the ecumenical dialogue without antagonizing other Orthodox churches,” he added.

North Macedonia has a population of about two million, mostly Slavic and Orthodox Christian; about a quarter are ethnically Albanian, most of them Muslim. Catholics number only about 15,000, including followers of the Western Roman Church and the Eastern Greek Church.

The country has added significance for Francis and for many Catholics, however, because its capital, Skopje, was the birthplace of Mother Teresa, the nun beloved for her work with the poor and sick of India. Francis made her a saint in 2016 .

At a Mass in the main Macedonia Square, the pope called on worshipers to find inspiration in Mother Teresa, saying: “She went to the Lord exactly as she went to the dispossessed, the unloved, the lonely and the forgotten.”

Pilgrims, most of them young, from all over the country and the region were waiting to see Francis, singing and dancing and waving their national flags, over which so much blood was spilled during the Balkan wars of the 1990s. He moved slowly through the crowd, shaking hands over the fence, smiling and waving to those farther away.

“It’s a big honor for a small country,” said Maja Patnenova, 28, a manager in a computer company in the eastern town of Strumica. “He is the only one who has not forgotten us here.”

During the Mass, the pope warned against materialism and disinformation.

“We thought that conformism would satisfy our thirst, yet we ended up drinking only indifference and insensitivity,” he said. “We gorged ourselves on networking, and lost the taste of fraternity,” ending up lonely and “overwhelmed by impatience and anxiety.”

The Rev. Goce Kostov, a priest who works in Strumica, near the border with Greece, said that Francis, like Mother Teresa, had made it his mission to visit faraway places and reach people who had been neglected, abandoned and forgotten.

“He goes to the periphery — and where are we here, if not on the periphery, economic, geographic and political periphery?” Father Goce said in an interview.

North Macedonia’s Catholic Church is made up largely of young people, he said, and is struggling with the same primary problem as the country’s Christian Orthodox and Muslims.

“They are leaving in droves, moving away from their country to seek better opportunities in the West,” Father Goce said. “We need to find ways to improve and keep them here.”

Anita Martinic, 45, a Serb and a Catholic who has lived in North Macedonia for five years, said she hoped the pope would “tell politicians to behave and do better work for their people.”

“His words might reach those in power, and they should really think about how they can make them stay and contribute so the country can improve and grow,” Ms. Martinic said.

Wrapped in the flag of Kosovo, a predominantly ethnic Albanian country that seeks recognition of statehood 10 years after declaring independence from Serbia, Loreta Kryeziu, 18, said the pope’s praise for Mother Teresa was an inspiration. “She was Albanian,” she said. “That’s great for us.”

Not far from the square, two economics students, Viktor Slavkovski, 20, and Simona Stojceva, 21, were on a break from class. Sitting on a park bench below a giant poster advertising Francis’ visit, they were deep in conversation about leaving the country to work in the United States this summer.

“Honestly, I don’t know why he’s come here,” Mr. Slavkovski said. “It’s not like he is a president of a famous country. Or a rock star,” he added, pointing at another poster, of Lenny Kravitz, who staged a concert in Skopje last week.

“He was live on Instagram, walking the Old Bazaar,” Ms. Stojceva said of the musician. “It went viral.”

“Does the pope have an Instagram account?” she asked. ( He does .) “It would really be cool if he went live,” Ms. Stojceva said.

9 Valuable Things to Know Before Visiting Kosovo

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Kosovo is a destination that typically draws one of two reactions. People either wonder where Kosovo is and if its safe, or relish the idea of going somewhere that feels off the beaten path. Chances are if you’re reading this you’re in the latter group, but if not, I have a long list of Kosovo posts to try to change your mind. Because the truth is that my time visiting Kosovo was a thoroughly entertaining and rewarding experience, and one that I wish to encourage others to consider.

Rather than just showing you a long list of Kosovo attractions, I thought it’d be more useful to provide practical advice for travelling to this tiny pocket of the Balkans. Because Kosovo is not your everyday destination. Once you know how to navigate its peculiarities, I think that you too will find it a terrific place to visit. Below are some of the most important things I think you should know before travelling to Kosovo.

Table of Contents

1. What Not To Talk About

There’s really no other way to start a discussion on travelling to Kosovo than with a question that always comes up: Is Kosovo a country? To tourists this may seem like an innocent question, but in reality it’s a mighty difficulty subject of conservation. Rather than provide my personal opinion as I’m an outsider to it all, I thought I’d explain why this isn’t a topic you want to bring up lightly while in Kosovo.

Kosovo is what’s known as a partially recognised state or disputed territory.  Once part of Yugoslavia, Kosovo remained under control of Serbia after the country’s breakup in the 1990s. In 2008 Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, an act that had been brewing for decades. Serbia disputes this action and continues to claim Kosovo as a territory. 97 UN states currently recognise Kosovo’s independent status, but as Serbia, Russia and China do not recognise it, Kosovo is not a member of the United Nations.

You can now see why raising this topic while in Kosovo and Serbia may cause problems. Depending on who you talk to, you’ll get very different answers and strongly-held beliefs. Matters like this are always a sensitive subject in any part of the world with an unresolved independence movement. People often don’t appreciate outsiders blindly stirring things up for no reason, so it’s best to be mindful of what you say on this matter.

2. Entry and Getting There

Understanding the contentious nature of Kosovo’s statehood is the only way to make sense of the challenges tied with getting to Kosovo. Because if people can’t agree on who controls the borders then how do travellers know what they have to do to cross them?

Ultimately, there’s two different scenarios that travellers have to be aware of when they visit Kosovo. One is when they plan on entering from Serbia; the other is if they want to travel from the neighbouring countries of Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia.

That’s because Serbia won’t recognise any entry/exit stamps for Kosovo provided by Kosovo border points. As such, if you enter Kosovo from Albania, travel through to Serbia and then try to leave Serbia, it will look to them like you’ve entered the country illegally. That’s a headache that you really want to avoid.

If your plans for Kosovo include Serbia, it’s best to enter and leave via Serbia because of the way the borders are recognised. For crossing between Kosovo and Albania, Montenegro and North Macedonia, you can mix and match, as these three all recognise Kosovo as an independent state.

As for actually getting to Kosovo, your options are pretty simple. By land you can either drive or use the intercity buses that connect major cities like Pristina and Prizren with elsewhere in the Balkans. Otherwise you can fly to Pristina, home of the main Kosovo airport.

3. Getting Around Kosovo

The good news is that once you arrive in Kosovo, getting around is a bit less complicated. Kosovo is not a large territory and is roughly the same size as its small neighbour Montenegro. That means you won’t have to travel enormous distances to get about, with most places only an hour or so away.

Getting around with your own car or a rental car is likely the most convenient option, but Kosovo does have a useful bus network. I travelled exclusively via public transport during my time there and found the intercity buses reliable and extremely affordable. With the bus network it’s important to realise that Pristina is its main hub, but you will find other routes, such as Prizren to Peja. Those fine with something more adventurous can also try hitchhiking , which my friend and I had success with in a pinch.

4. An Uncrowded Destination

It probably comes as no surprise that Kosovo is a destination not yet struggling with over-tourism. Compared to so many other more popular Balkan destinations, the tourist numbers for Kosovo are a mere drop in the ocean. Sure, part of that is that Kosovo lacks the beaches of Croatia or Albania, and the ski resorts of Bulgaria. But the low tourist numbers actually make it quite a good choice if you’re worried about sustainability and over-tourism.

The places you’re most likely to spot fellow travellers are the cities of Pristina and Prizren. In fact, Prizren is possibly even more popular than the capital due to its historical character and we actually saw a tour group or two there. It was in Prizren that we realised that most of the other tourists in Kosovo we encountered were from German-speaking countries.

We later learned that Kosovo had featured on a popular German travel series. Before that it was surprising to see the overwhelming majority of other travellers being German, especially fellow hikers doing the Peaks of the Balkans . We even got mistaken for German tourists more than once, only to really confuse people when we said we were from Australia instead.

5. A Little Language Goes A Long Way

My philosophy when visiting anywhere is to make an effort when it comes to learning the local language. Even mastering the most basic phrases shows you recognise where you are and goes a little way towards making up for them having to help you in your language. To me it’s a sign of respect first, that also can be useful when you can use what you’ve learned. 

The two official languages for Kosovo are Albanian and Serbian, but you’re most likely to encounter people speaking Albanian. Serbian seems to only be spoken in parts of Kosovo where there is still an ethnic Serbian population, such as around Mitrovica, and at holy sites like Gracanica Monastery and Visoki Decani Monastery. Otherwise it’s Albanian you’ll hear, which makes it the more useful of the two to learn a little of. As for foreign languages, English and German are the most useful for easily getting about.

A few basic phrases to get you started include Tungjatjeta  which means ‘Hello’; Falemenderit for ‘Thank you’; Ju lutem for ‘Please’; Më falni for “Excuse Me” and Po and Jo  for ‘Yes’ and ‘No’.

6. Safety and Friendly People

Because many people still associate Kosovo with the conflict in 1998-1999 and ethnic violence, one of the most common questions is if Kosovo is safe to visit. This honestly tends to happen a bit throughout the Balkans such as in Bosnia Herzegovina. My guess is that it’s because the news from that period is all people know about the region. Generally speaking, those worries are outdated and don’t reflect the Balkans much at all any more.

So, is Kosovo safe? In my limited experience as a white man, yes. I felt just as safe – if not more so – as anywhere in Europe. I admittedly didn’t experience too much of Kosovo’s nightlife or roam city streets at night. But in terms of everyday safety, it felt no different than what I’m used to.

I will say that I felt there was a really positive attitude to visitors and tourists in general. From random offers for coffee while hiking in the Rugova Valley to overly generous guesthouse hosts, there was certainly a feeling of being welcome in Kosovo.

One note that I should make regarding staying safe in Kosovo has to do with northern Kosovo. Read up on travel to Kosovo and you’ll see warnings for the north around Mitrovica regarding issues in the past of violent incidents. We avoided visiting Mitrovica partly for this reason, but I have since heard fellow travellers say they went without issues. If you want to visit northern Kosovo, do your research and make that judgement call for yourself.

7. An Inviting History to Explore

With a place like Kosovo it’s easy to fixate on recent history as that’s what most international visitors are most familiar with. But look past the last thirty years and you learn that the region around Kosovo has quite a fascinating history to explore if you like that sort of thing. No one would fault you for not knowing the history of Kosovo, but it’s easy enough to learn more.

A great place to start is the Kosovo Museum in Pristina, as it showcases artefacts from classical antiquity. There you can learn about the region once known as Dardania and see items from that era. The museum also highlighted Kosovo’s part during World War I, which I also knew little about.

However it’s Kosovo’s time during the Middle Ages and under Ottoman Rule that has produced some of its most impressive attractions. The four UNESCO Medieval Monuments in Kosovo each highlight the region’s importance to Serbian Orthodoxy. Then you have Prizren with its traditional character and its hilltop fortress that had major strategic value for medieval rulers and the Ottomans.

8. The Most Affordable Place in Europe

Having travelled through a fair share of Europe at this point, I feel confident in saying that Kosovo is the most budget-friendly destination I’ve been. The Balkans are well-known for being the most affordable region in Europe for backpackers and the like. And yet, Kosovo takes to it a whole other level that is more reminiscent of Georgia and southeast Asia.

Although not a member of the EU, Kosovo uses the Euro as its currency, which immediately makes life easier for travellers.

Now, you might not notice much difference in things like accommodation from elsewhere in the Balkans. But when it comes to food and things like bus fares, it’s hard to believe the value for money. Intercity bus trips rarely cost more than a few euros and you should have no difficulty finding meals for 5-10€. You’ll have to spoil yourself with a nice restaurant to spend more than that.

9. More To See Than You Realise

The last parting piece of advice I have is that there’s more to see in Kosovo than most people realise. I say this for most places I write about, but it definitely stands true here. Many people just don’t make time for it, either prioritising other countries and/or not knowing what Kosovo has to offer. Most only ever see Pristina and Prizren, but there really is so much more to explore.

If you want to see smaller cities, you can look to Gjakova , Peja and Vushtrri. I can’t recommend the hiking experiences up in Bjeshkët e Nemuna National Park highly enough if you don’t mind hills. But there are also smaller spots like the scattered UNESCO sites, the Prishtina Bear Sanctuary and the White Drin Waterfall that are all worth seeking out.

I never knew there were so many places to visit in Kosovo before I went. I’m so glad I allowed the time to explore it in a little more depth and I’m sure you will be too if you do.

Resources for Travel to Kosovo

• Getting There: To find the cheapest and most convenient flights to Kosovo make sure to check Kayak .
• Accommodation: Here you can find hotels, apartments and guesthouses in Kosovo , plus don’t forget Airbnb.
• Tours: There are countless day trips and sightseeing tours available in Kosovo.
• Car Hire: If you want to travel more independently, consider renting a car to drive yourself about.
• Guide Books: Lastly, if you’re after a physical guide to take with you then you can’t beat a Lonely Planet Guide.

What has been your experience when visiting Kosovo? What other advice would you recommend for this Kosovo travel blog post? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Why Not Pin It for Later

David is the author behind the Travelsewhere travel blog and is always on the search for the quieter, less-visited corners of the world.

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Kosovo looks beautiful and, from what we’ve heard from travelers and expats living in America, is a wonderful place to explore. We have some Albanian friends who talk frequently about their visits, and it always makes us want to go! Good advice on getting into/out of Kosovo – didn’t realize it was so tricky. Now we just need to actually get ourselves there! Thanks for the tips!

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Pope Francis Intends to Visit Argentina, maybe Uruguay and Kosovo

Pope Francis will travel to Argentina, after the presidential elections in the country, and admits a trip to Uruguay intending also to visit Kosovo, said the head of state of the Vatican to the Spanish magazine Viada Nueva.   "I can confirm that [Argentina] is on the program. We will see if it will take place, after the election year (2024). Once the elections are over, it is possible", said Jorge Bergoglio, without specifying concrete dates, in an interview with the Spanish magazine Vida Nueva published today.   In this interview, Pope Francis revealed that he is considering appointing "a permanent representative" to "serve as a bridge" between Russia and Ukraine, at the same time that he announced that his special envoy to mediate the war will travel to Beijing , having already visited Kiev, Moscow and Washington.  As for his visits, the Vatican head of state recently stated that he intended to travel to Argentina and that he would also like to visit Uruguay.   "At this point I am thinking of Argentina (...) and maybe Uruguay. There have already been some attempts [to make the trip], but the [Argentine presidential] elections frustrated the visit", he told the Spanish religious publication.   Asked about the travel agenda, in addition to the trips already officially announced, the Pope said he would like to visit Kosovo.  Pope Francis, 86 years old, added that he does not currently intend to travel to "big" countries in Europe until he "finishes visits to the smaller ones".   "We are working on the visit to Kosovo, but nothing is set", he said.   After the trip he is currently making to Lisbon, as part of the World Youth Day, the Pope will travel to Mongolia between the 31st of August and the 4th of September and will participate in Marseilles, France, in the Mediterranean Encounters, between the 22nd and 23rd of September.  During the Mediterranean Meetings, in which mayors and bishops from southern Europe participate, Pope Francis is also due to meet with the French head of state Emmanuel Macron, the RTP News reported.

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