Monsignor Rrok Mirdita, a prominent figure of the Albanian Catholic clergy, was born on September 28, 1939, in Klezna, near Ulqin, Montenegro. He studied theology and philosophy in Zadar and Zagreb, Croatia. He was ordained a priest on July 5, 1965.
Mirdita later moved to New York to serve the Albanian Catholic community in the Bronx. During his years in the United States, he contributed to the religious and community life of Albanians. In 1985, he founded the radio programme “Voice of Our Lady of Shkodër Catholic Church”. He also helped establish and develop the parishes of Our Lady of Shkodër and Our Lady of Good Counsel in New York.
On April 24, 1993, Pope John Paul II ordained Mirdita as Archbishop of Durrës and Tirana. He then returned to Albania and took responsibility for rebuilding the Catholic Church after decades of dictatorship and state atheism.
As head of the Catholic Church and leader of Caritas Albania, Mirdita supported humanitarian assistance, education and vulnerable groups. He also worked to strengthen religious harmony and coexistence. Mirdita passed away in Tirana on December 7, 2015.
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