Pjeter Budi

Born 1566; died 1622. Leader in the Albanian liberation movement; bishop (from 1621) of Sappa. Budi fought for the “albanization” of the Catholic Church in Albania and sought to have church posts filled by native-born Albanians. He translated ecclesiastical literature into Albanian. He strove to free Albania from the Turkish yoke, hoping to obtain the aid of the pope and the European powers toward this end. In a report to Cardinal Gozzadini, which he composed during a trip to Rome in 1621, Budi set forth a plan for a all-Albanian insurrection against the Ottoman Empire. Not receiving the aid he had expected, Budi returned to his native land, where he was soon killed.