On April 22, 2017, Pope Francis wrote in Latin to Cardinal Franc Rode, his special envoy for the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the arrival of the icon of Our Lady of Scutari, Albania, at the church of Genazzano, near Rome.
The celebration, taking place on April 26 in the National Shrine of Scutari in Albania, commemorates the arrival of the statue of Our Lady of Scutari at the church of Our Lady of Good Counsel of Genazzano, after the Albanian Shrine was destroyed by the Ottomans in 1467.
Celebrations are also being held in the Italian town. Earlier this week, Cardinal Salvatore De Giorgi, Archbishop Emeritus of Palermo, celebrated a solemn Mass.
The Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rode is Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
