Cardinal Simoni celebrates the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination
Pope Leo met with the 97-year-old Albanian Cardinal Ernest Simoni and about 40 members of his family.
In 1963, as a young priest, Cardinal Simoni was arrested, tortured, and sentenced to death by the Communist authorities for offering Mass for the soul of John F. Kennedy.
His sentence was later converted to life imprisonment of hard labor. Communist authorities offered to free him if he renounced his faith. He didn’t, and after 28 years of penal labour, he was eventually freed.
Pope Francis heard his testimony during his trip to Albania in September 2014, visibly moved to tears by the priest’s words, whom he always called a “living martyr”. In 2016, Pope Francis named him a Cardinal, thanking him for this testimony “that does good for the Church.” He chose the motto: “My Immaculate Heart will Triumph.”
Cardinal Simoni celebrated the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination on April 7, 2026
Cardinal Simoni celebrates the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination
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