29/04/2026
Cardinal Ernest Simoni and Pope Leo XIV:
At 97 years old, Cardinal Ernest Simoni is a living testimony to unwavering faithfulness.
In 1963 he was arrested by the communist regime in Albania. Tortured, condemned and forced into labor... they offered him freedom in exchange for renouncing his faith. He never accepted.
He spent 28 years in prison, celebrating the Eucharist in secret and holding onto hope in the midst of suffering. 🙏
In 2014, Pope Francis heard his story and couldn't hold back his tears. Two years later he was created by a cardinal, calling him a true "living martyr".
Today, his life reminds us of something essential:
✨ faith is not negotiable
✨ the love for Christ is not abandoned
✨ and faithfulness, even in pain, bears fruit
🕊️ 70 years of priesthood... a life delivered to the end.
Living Martyr Faith That Remains