Pope Leo greets Albanian Hero Cardinal Simoni
At the end of his General Audience on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, Pope Leo XIV warmly greeted Ernest Cardinal Simoni, the 97-year-old hero of the persecuted Albanian Church. Cardinal Simoni’s life stands as a profound testimony of faith and resilience under persecution. Arrested by Communist authorities in Albania for offering Mass for the soul of former US President John F. Kennedy, he was tortured and sentenced to death, a punishment later reduced to life imprisonment with hard labor. Despite brutal conditions, Simoni refused repeated offers of freedom in exchange for renouncing his Catholic faith. After enduring 28 years of forced labor, he was finally released and continued to serve the Church faithfully. In 2016, Pope Francis elevated him to the College of Cardinals in recognition of his steadfast witness, and he chose “My Immaculate Heart will Triumph” as his motto. His meeting with Pope Leo XIV was a moving moment, uniting two generations of faith and courage.
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