The head of the church led a station procession on Ash Wednesday afternoon .
At the beginning of Christianity, during the decades of communism and still today in many parts of the world, Christians were persecuted for their faith, Pope Francis said at the audience opening the Easter Lent period on Wednesday.
the general the Holy Father expressed his respect for Cardinal Ernest Simoni, who was imprisoned for twenty-eight years by the communist regime in Albania: Pope Francis interrupted his pre-prepared speech and greeted one of his visitors with long, informal words when greeting the pilgrims present.
He referred to the martyrdom of Christians in ancient Rome, who, among other things, were laid to rest in the Vatican cemetery, then noted that there are still many martyrs around the world today, and specially greeted Cardinal Ernest Simoni, whom he called a "living martyr".
Ernest Simoni was born in the village of Troshani in northern Albania in 1928. He began his priestly studies in the Franciscan order at the age of ten. In 1948, the Franciscan monastery where he stayed was looted by agents of the communist regime, the monks were shot, and the novices were expelled. Nevertheless, Simoni continued his theological studies in secret and was secretly ordained a priest in 1956. In 1963, after presenting the Christmas Mass, Simoni was arrested and imprisoned.
He was in prison for twenty-eight years, in solitary confinement and did many years of forced labor.
During Pope Francis' visit to Albania in September 2014, he met Father Simoni and was very moved when Father Simoni spoke about his sufferings. After his visit, he decided to make the old priest a cardinal.
Pope Francis began his tribute to Iranian Cardinal Simoni at the general hearing by referring to the many Christian martyrs buried around the Vatican.
"We have all read and heard the stories of the early martyrs of the Church. Even here, where the Vatican stands now, there is a cemetery, many people were executed here. But even today there are many martyrs around the world: many, perhaps more than at the beginning. Many are persecuted because of their faith," the Pope emphasized.
He then introduced Cardinal Simoni, noting that he had "lived 28 years in prison" as a result of the persecution of the Church in Albania, which he said was "perhaps the most cruel" of its kind.
Cardinal Simoni "continues to bear witness", the Pope emphasized, adding that the cardinal is now 95 years old and continues to work tirelessly for the benefit of the Church.
After his release from prison in the 1990s, Cardinal Simoni forgave his jailers and resumed his priestly ministry, with a focus on promoting reconciliation in post-communist Albania.
"My dear brother, thank you for your witness," concluded Pope Francis.
On the afternoon of Ash Wednesday, the head of the church led a station procession according to tradition on the Aventine Hill in Rome, which goes from the Basilica of St. Anselm to the Basilica of St. Sabina. During the ceremony, the priests and believers are sprinkled with ashes. In Italy, the ash is obtained from olive branches used and burned on the occasion of the previous year's Easter.
Cover photo: Pope Francis and Cardinal Simoni
Source: Facebook/Vatican News
