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COMKFOR MEETS WITH THE ITALIAN MILITARY ARCHBISHOP MONSIGNOR SANTO MARCIANO

Pristina 05 February 2014.

On 01 February 2014, the Kosovo Force Commander, (COMKFOR) Major-General Salvatore FARINA received, Military Archbishop Monsignor Santo MARCIANO’, Chief of the Roman Catholic Church for Military Service, in Camp Film City.

Major-General Salvatore FARINA and Monsignor Santo MARCIANO’ spoke about the general situation in the Balkans and about the importance of the presence of spiritual and religious support within KFOR.

COMKFOR underlined that KFOR encourages dialogue between all religious representatives in Kosovo to support peace, cooperation and progress for all the people of Kosovo.

Major-General Salvatore FARINA thanked the Italian Archbishop for the work of the two chaplains and the spiritual support that they provide.

Italy is one of the major troop contributors to KFOR with over 550 Italian soldiers and Carabinieri serving in Kosovo.

The visit was also the occasion for Monsignor Santo MARCIANO’ to visit Italian troops and Carabinieri at Camp "Villaggio Italia” in Belo Polje and in the MSU Camp in Pristina.

During his stay in Kosovo, from 1st to to 5th February, Monsignor Santo MARCIANO’ met the most important religious representatives in Kosovo including the Orthodox Bishop, Monsignor TEODOSJE, and the Catholic Bishop Monsignor DODE. Monsignor Santo MARCIANO’ attended the inauguration of the Hospitality House of Basilian Sister and he visited the Umbrian CARITAS Structure in KLINA.

The Chief of the Roman Catholic Church for Military Service also visited the PEC Patriarchate and the DECANI and GRACANICA Monasteries, considered the best preserved religious sites within the Orthodox cultural heritage in Kosovo.