President Bajram Begaj attended the 70th anniversary of the priestly ordination of His Eminence, Cardinal Ernest Simoni.
At the ceremony held at the Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in Florence, President Begaj praised Cardinal Simoni as a symbol of resilience, faith, and sacrifice—a “living martyr.”
“Your story is living proof that no regime can eradicate faith and human dignity. Your story, Cardinal Ernest Simoni, teaches us that faith is not measured in times of peace, but in times of trial, and that human dignity does not depend on circumstances, but on how one responds to them,” the President said in his message, also honoring the sacrifice of clergy during the dictatorship and the 38 beatified Catholic martyrs.
“It is a special honor and an indescribable emotion to be here today, in the heart of Florence, at the ‘Santa Maria del Fiore’ Cathedral, to honor a distinguished son of the Albanian nation, an apostle of resilience and a global symbol of freedom of conscience, the living martyr, Cardinal Ernest Simoni.
The 70th anniversary of Cardinal Ernest Simoni’s ordination invites us to reflect on a lifetime of service, a long journey marked by dedication and faith, a story that proves that light cannot be overcome by darkness, and on values that give meaning to our society.
Albania has gone through one of its darkest periods under dictatorship—a regime that declared war on God, freedom, human dignity, and religious belief, where the Church and the Catholic community were among the most persecuted.
Your story, Your Eminence Cardinal Simoni, is not just the story of one man. It is the story of all those who suffered under communist persecution—perhaps the harshest religious persecution known in the modern world. It is the story of the 38 beatified martyrs, of bishops and priests executed, of our compatriots drowned, buried alive, or tortured to death simply because they believed in God.
Your story is living proof that no regime could destroy faith and human dignity.
It teaches us that faith is tested not in peaceful times, but in times of hardship, and that human dignity depends not on circumstances, but on the stance one takes in facing them.
Today, Albania is a different country—a free nation that respects faith and human dignity, where interfaith coexistence and harmony are among our most precious values.
This interfaith harmony is a daily responsibility and a treasure that must be preserved, nurtured, and proudly passed on to future generations.
But this freedom did not come on its own. It has names, stories, and sacrifices. And one of those names is undoubtedly Cardinal Ernest Simoni.
In 2014, in Albania, Pope Francis listened to Cardinal Simoni’s testimony, which moved not only the Holy Father but the entire world. The tears of the Holy Father were a tribute to a life lived in suffering—without hatred, without revenge, with humility.
The decision to elevate him to the rank of cardinal was a profound act of recognition and appreciation not only for a man, but for a history—a living testimony of resilience, hope, faith, and human dignity.
In moments like this, where history, faith, and humanity meet, we are reminded that greatness lies not in power or fame, but in humility. Albanian tradition teaches us that a person becomes great not by taking, but by giving; not by ruling, but by serving; not by speaking much, but by acting justly; not by surrendering, but by standing for what is right; not by hypocrisy, but by integrity.
Cardinal Ernest Simoni is a living model of these values.
On the 70th anniversary of your priesthood, Albania thanks you not with formal words, but from the heart!
We are fortunate to have you among us, fortunate that Albanians have a Cardinal like you, and above all fortunate that through your life we have an inspiring example, in the same tradition as Mother Teresa, showing that greatness lies in service and love for others.
A special thanks goes to the Holy See and to the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for their continued blessing and support for Albania and Albanians.
I also express sincere gratitude to the organizers of this event for their dedication in preserving this valuable memory and passing it on to society and younger generations.
May this day be not only a tribute to the past, but also a commitment to the future—to preserve values, to protect and build a more humane, just, peaceful, and free society in thought, belief, and action.
Today is a day of gratitude for a life lived in service, for a testimony that remains part of the universal conscience, and for an example that continues to speak not only today, but also tomorrow.
I wish His Eminence, Cardinal Ernest Simoni, health, peace, and a long life.”
The post President Begaj at the 70th Anniversary of Cardinal Ernest Simoni’s Ordination: A Testament to Human Dignity appeared first on Euronews Albania.
