At the end of his General Audience, Pope Francis publicly praised 95-year-old Cardinal Ernest Simoni, who was also present in the Paul VI Audience Hall.
POPE FRANCIS
He, as a priest, bishop, lived 28 years in prison, the communist prison in Albania, where the persecution was possibly the cruelest, and who continues to bear witness and like him, many, many, many others. He is now 95 years old and continues…to work for the Church without being discouraged. Dear brother, I thank you for your witness. Thank you.
Pope Francis met the Albanian Bishop during his visit to the country and was moved by his story. And in 2016, he made Simoni a cardinal.
JRB
TR: KG
