Posted on 05/07/2016 1:20:14 PM PDT by NYer
Pope Francis has again kissed the hands of Father Ernest Simoni, the Albanian priest who spent 28 years in prison for being faithful to the Church during the Communist regime.
The visibly moved Bishop of Rome met the priest some days ago, after the general audience of April 20, in St. Peter’s Square.
“This is an Albanian martyr,” the Pope said when he saw him.
The Pope has met this priest before. And once again, he pressed his forehead to the forehead of the living martyr.
They first met on Nov. 21, 2014, in Tirana; the Holy Father cried when Fr. Simoni gave his testimony about the torture he suffered for refusing to deny Christ.
“The Pope immediately remembered Father Ernest,” Italian author Mimmo Muolo of Avvenire told Aleteia. “He addressed him with his last name, ‘Simoni!’ and indicated that he remembered the story of his persecution, recounted in the cathedral of Tirana in 2014.”
Muolo is the author of “Don Ernest Simoni: Dai lavori forzati all’incontro con Francesco” (Father Ernest Simoni: From persecution to a meeting with Francis, San Paoline, 2016).
“Obviously, Fr. Ernest did everything he could so that the Holy Father wouldn’t kiss his hands, at the same time, trying to kiss those of the Pope,” Muolo remarked.
Ping!
Albania, under Hoxha, made North Korea look sane in comparison.
Wow. I think I’d do the same if I had the chance!
Well that’s an improvement over telling EU countries to tear down the fences against migrant islamo filth. Last I checked the Vatican had its walls intact to keep out the riffraff.
I was in Albania in the late 1990’s. They had concrete bunkers all over the country in preparation for invasions that never came. At one point Albania was the only officially atheist country on Earth. Christianity and Islam are now in some competition since Xoxha is gone. Most people are Muslim by tradition but not by practice. The Saudis and others have spent a lot of money within the country, but Christianity is making good inroads. Albania is one of the more moderate of the predominantly Muslim countries. Bin Laden went there, but seems to not have been able to make inroads among the people. Albania is surprisingly one of the most pro-American countries on Earth. (At one time, it was rated the MOST pro-American country.) The people are very gracious. Oh, and Kruje is a seldom visited but amazing tourist destination.
AXIOS!
I go to church with Albanians every Sunday. One of the fellows swam from Albania to Greece and was found on a beach more dead than alive by monks from a nearby monastery. American Christian have no idea how bad it is/was in other parts of the world.
Bears repeating!!! Belated Easter blessings to you, my friend.
The relics of St. Charbel arrived today at our parish. A couple from NYC took the train up here to pay homage. The wife is blind. Tomorrow is the saint's birthday. Both our bishop and the RC bishop of Albany will be here to concelebrate the Divine Liturgy, followed by a procession with the relics. Afterwards, we are naturally, providing a reception with tons of food. The church will remain open until 7pm today and 5pm tomorrow.
May God pour out graces abundantly on all who come to venerate the relics of the very holy St. Charbel. The saint will be in Charlotte on June 4-5.
Afterwards, we are naturally, providing a reception with tons of food.
God forgives me, but it’s even better than Greek food! Make sure there is plenty of Hezbollah wine from the Below valley!
Bekka not below!
I met an Albanian once...
He did NOT have white hair or pink eyes.....
>>American Christian have no idea how bad it is/was in other parts of the world.
I know. I always have to shake my head at my friends who talk of the “coming Tribulation”. I tell them that just because it isn’t in the USA, doesn’t mean that it hasn’t been going on for a long time.
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