Pope pays tribute to “living martyr” of Communism

[Michie]

Cardinal Simoni, who is a simple priest, was present at the papal audience on February 14. He suffered prison and forced labor under Communism in Albania.

Pope Francis paid tribute to Cardinal Ernest Simoni (present at the audience), the Albanian “living martyr” who spent 18 years of his life between prison and hard labor during the Communist era. At the end of the general audience on February 14, 2024, the Pope asked for applause for the 95-year-old, “who continues to work for the Church without becoming discouraged.”


“Dear brother, I thank you for your testimony.” In the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis turned to Cardinal Ernest Simoni to pay him a heartfelt tribute. Referring to the great number of martyrs dying today for their faith in Jesus Christ, “perhaps more than in the past,” Pope Francis improvised before the crowd a heartfelt thanks for this priest, whom he had met in 2014 during his trip to Albania.

Continued below.

Pope honors Cardinal Simoni, "living martyr" of communism

The cardinal, who is a simple priest, was present the papal audience on February 14. He suffered prison and forced labor under Communism in Albania.

aleteia.org

 

[chevyontheriver]

Cardinal Simoni, who is a simple priest, was present at the papal audience on February 14. He suffered prison and forced labor under Communism in Albania.

Pope Francis paid tribute to Cardinal Ernest Simoni (present at the audience), the Albanian “living martyr” who spent 18 years of his life between prison and hard labor during the Communist era. At the end of the general audience on February 14, 2024, the Pope asked for applause for the 95-year-old, “who continues to work for the Church without becoming discouraged.”


“Dear brother, I thank you for your testimony.” In the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, Pope Francis turned to Cardinal Ernest Simoni to pay him a heartfelt tribute. Referring to the great number of martyrs dying today for their faith in Jesus Christ, “perhaps more than in the past,” Pope Francis improvised before the crowd a heartfelt thanks for this priest, whom he had met in 2014 during his trip to Albania.

Continued below.

Pope honors Cardinal Simoni, "living martyr" of communism

The cardinal, who is a simple priest, was present the papal audience on February 14. He suffered prison and forced labor under Communism in Albania.

aleteia.org

While it is good that he honored someone who resisted Communism, the pope seems to want to embrace Communism most of the time. This is neither here nor there with regards to infallibility but it is disconcerting.