Arbëreshë (Albanians in Italy)
Since 1399, Italy has had an Albanian minority known as the Arbëreshë, who are scattered across Southern Italy. The majority of Albanians, however, arrived after 1991 and surpassed this older population in number. Although they have some characteristics in common, they are still 2 distinct groups. The Arbëreshë have moved away from the use of their native language, and now prefer Italian, but they have a very strong social presence and ethnic cohesion. For the more recent Albanian immigrants, who either cannot or chose not to claim an Arbëreshë identity, there exists a strong pressure to assimilate into Italian culture as an ethnic “coping mechanism.” The Arbëreshë are associated with the Byzantine Catholic church, but recent immigrants come from an atheistic communist regime of Albania.
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Albanian immigrants to Italy from the post-communist era are steeped in atheist doctrine. Under communism their country was proud to be the first totally atheist country in the world. Pray for they suffer from a foundation devoid of truth.
Albanians in Italy are stereotyped as committing the most heinous crimes. Name changing is one way that they have coped with this situation. Pray for Italian believers to reach beyond stereotypes to share the Gospel with the Albanians.
Arbëreshë are connected to the Byzantine Catholic church, a mix of Catholicism and Orthodoxy. They maintain connection to the church but don’t understand their need for a personal relationship with Christ. Pray for them to seek Christ.
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