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CV NEWS FEED // In Kosovo, a quiet spiritual movement is gaining momentum as more Albanians leave Islam and embrace Catholicism — a shift many credit to the enduring legacy of Saint Mother Teresa.
Once a Muslim-majority region under Ottoman rule, Kosovo is now witnessing a cultural and religious reawakening that some describe as a return to the nation’s ancestral Catholic roots, WorldCrunch reported.
The Decanski Movement Association, one of the most visible groups promoting the shift, encourages Albanians to reclaim their original faith and national identity under the motto: “We are no longer Muslims.” They argue that Catholicism predates Islam in the region and was long practiced in secret due to historical persecution.
Centuries ago, Catholic Albanians faced high taxes and pressure under Ottoman rule, leading many to convert. Some of today’s converts view their decision as a return to their historical roots.
Amid these changes, the figure of St. Mother Teresa looms large, according to WorldCrunch. Though born in neighboring Macedonia, she discerned her vocation in Kosovo’s village of Letnica and remains one of the region’s most beloved Catholic icons.
Her religious order once operated dozens of clinics across Kosovo, offering care for the poor, the wounded, and the elderly in the wake of war. In Pristina, a cathedral built in the saint’s honor now stands at the heart of the capital.
Despite being few in number — Catholics make up just over 2% of the population — conversions are reshaping Kosovo’s religious landscape. Catholic sites remain relatively untouched by religious violence, unlike many Orthodox and Islamic sites that have faced attacks in recent years.
