Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani’s life is a remarkable testimony to faith, forgiveness and perseverance having spent eighteen years in jail at the hands of Albanian communists, during which time he endured torture and harsh conditions that continued even after his release.

Born on October 18, 1928, in Troshani, Albania, at the age of ten he entered the Franciscan College in Troshani to begin his formation for the priesthood. However, his path was disrupted in 1948 when the communist regime of Enver Hoxha began its persecution of religious institutions in the country.

Despite the challenges, Simoni continued his theological studies clandestinely and was ordained priest on April 7, 1956, in Shkodrë. His ministry was marked by dedication and courage, even in the face of growing oppression. On Christmas Eve 1963, after celebrating Mass, Simoni was arrested and imprisoned. He was initially sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to twenty-five years of hard labor.

During his eighteen years of imprisonment, Simoni endured torture and harsh conditions, including work in mines and sewage canals. Despite these hardships, he remained steadfast in his faith, secretly celebrating Mass from memory and hearing confessions of fellow prisoners. After his release in 1981, he was still considered an “enemy of the people” and was forced to work in the Shkodrë sewers, but he continued to exercise his priestly ministry clandestinely until the fall of the communist regime in 1990.

Simoni’s extraordinary witness to faith caught the attention of Pope Francis during his visit to Albania in 2014 and on November 19, 2016, he elevated Simoni to the rank of cardinal, assigning him the titular church of Santa Maria della Scala. The appointment was also symbolic, honoring the suffering of Albanian Catholics under communism and promoting their courageous witness to the wider Catholic world.

Throughout his life, Cardinal Simoni has been a testament to forgiveness and perseverance. He never used words of hate or resentment towards his jailers, believing that “only love conquers.” Now in his 90s, Cardinal Simoni continues to share his powerful testimony with communities around the world, reminding people of the strength of faith in the face of adversity.