God’s Word is ‘a real and constant point
of reference’ for migrants

The cover of the diglot Italian-Albanian Gospel of John. Photo: BSItaly (ITA06DJ-16.JPG)

ITALY/ALBANIA — Many of the Albanians who move to Italy in search of employment find themselves isolated from mainstream society by their inability to speak Italian. It may also be hard for them to adjust to customs which are very different from their own. A new publication from the Bible Society in Italy and the Interconfessional Bible Society of Albania (IBSA) is designed to address their isolation and to show them that God’s Word is “everywhere and in every language always the same, a real and constant point of reference for every human being, regardless of the uncertain situation in which they may live.”

Good progress

One of IBSA’s main projects over recent years has been the production of a new interconfessional translation of the New Testament (see World Report 394/11 and 380/20). Working in collaboration with the Eastern Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches, IBSA has been making good progress and is now planning to publish at the end of this year. In the meantime, it has linked with the Bible Society in Italy to combine the newly completed translation of the Gospel of John with an Italian translation dating from 2000 and produce a diglot Albanian-Italian Gospel of John. This is aimed particularly at Albanians living in Italy, but could also be of interest to both Italians and Albanians who wish to learn more about the other country’s language and culture.

Prompted and guided by United Bible Societies Translation Consultant the Rev Dr Carlo Buzzetti, the two Bible Societies are now making available 20,000 copies of an attractive, affordable publication which places Italian and Albanian translations side-by-side for the first time.

Strong support

Both translations are recent and, most importantly, were produced by interconfessional teams. The interconfessional nature of this project is reflected in the fact that it has received strong support from the Roman Catholic social action organisation Caritas Italiana, which has paid for the print run and will now distribute 15,000 copies at 140 centres for migrants that it runs.

Initial responses to this publication have been positive. “People are already asking when the next Gospel will be available!” says Dr Valdo Bertalot, General Secretary of the Bible Society in Italy.

This report relates to projects 70103, 70104 and 70108. For more information about the Bible Society in Italy’s ministry to migrants, see World Report 400/25. (WR 402/21 - 05.06) [1 photo]