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(Vatican Radio) Albania's Catholic Church has welcomed Pope Francis decision to name a priest who suffered decades for his faith inChrist to the College of Cardinals. Ernest Troshani Simoni was one of 17 new cardinals named by the pope on Sunday.Listen to Stefan Bos' report For Albania's tiny Catholic Church the nomination of priest Troshani to the College of Cardinals is a a deeply symbolic gesture.The Church said it acknowledged the suffering of Catholic clergy in Albania during the reign of Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, who banned religion in 1967.Troshani, who turns 88 later this month and uses his Troshani birthplace as one of his names, was one of 17 new cardinals named by Pope Franciswho will be formally elevated at a Vatican ceremony on November 19. He is among four cardinals over age 80 who can't vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.But they were named to the group because of their service to the church.An Albanian church spokesman even called it...
(Vatican Radio) Albania's Catholic Church has welcomed Pope Francis decision to name a priest who suffered decades for his faith in
Christ to the College of Cardinals. Ernest Troshani Simoni was one of 17 new cardinals named by the pope on Sunday.
Listen to Stefan Bos' report
For Albania's tiny Catholic Church the nomination of priest Troshani to the College of Cardinals is a a deeply symbolic gesture.
The Church said it acknowledged the suffering of Catholic clergy in Albania during the reign of Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, who banned religion in 1967.
Troshani, who turns 88 later this month and uses his Troshani birthplace as one of his names, was one of 17 new cardinals named by Pope Francis
who will be formally elevated at a Vatican ceremony on November 19. He is among four cardinals over age 80 who can't vote in a conclave to elect a new pope.
But they were named to the group because of their service to the church.
An Albanian church spokesman even called it "an homage to a cleric symbolizing all Albania's suffering clergy."
IN TEARS
When Pope Francis visited Albania in 2014, he was brought to tears by priest Troshani's of the two decades of imprisonment, torture and forced labor he
suffered under Albania's Communist rulers for refusing to renounce his Catholic faith.
Troshani recounted his life story to Francis during the pope's one-day visit to Tirana on September 21, 2014, meant to highlight interfaith harmony that exists
among the majority Muslim nation of more than 3 million people.
Speaking at the Tirana cathedral, Troshani recalled his arrest, after celebrating Christmas Mass on December 24, 1963 and being placed in isolation.
He told of being condemned to death, but the sanction was commuted to 25 years of forced labor.
During his incarceration, he became the spiritual guide to many other prisoners, who then came to his defense when he was again sentenced to death in 1973 after a revolt. He was spared because of their testimony.
Troshani was freed in 1981 but had to continue preaching clandestinely until the communist regime fell in 1990.
TOUCHING MARTYRS
As Troshani recounted his ordeal, Pope Francis - who was reading along an Italian translation of his remarks - became visibly moved.
When he finished, Troshani knelt before the pope. They later embraced for nearly a minute to the applause of the priests and nuns in
the audience
"Today I touched martyrs," Pope Francis said at the time. .
Troshani will be elevated to cardinal two weeks after the Vatican honors 38 of his fellow believers who were persecuted or executed under Hoxha's
regime. The beatification ceremony is scheduled for November 5 in Shkoder, Albania, where the first public Mass was held after the fall of communism.
The Albanian church said Troshani's elevation was a sign of the pope's "honor and gratitude" on the eve of the beatification.
It added that ""Elevating the Albanian clergy persecuted during communism is a sign of how much this clergy has given to the universal Catholic Church
with their martyrs."
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday greeted members of the General Assembly of the Pallotine Fathers.Pope Francis spoke of the charism of St. Vincent Pallotti, who founded the order in Rome in 1835, saying he was “blessed to recognize that Jesus is the Apostle of the Father - rich in mercy and full of mercy - [Christ] is the one who fulfills his mission by revealing to everyone the tender love and the infinite mercy of the Father.”“Contemplating the life of Jesus and looking at our life as pilgrims in this world with its many challenges, we feel the necessity of a profound conversion and the urgency of reviving faith in Him,” – Pope Francis said – “This is the only way we can serve our neighbor in charity! Every day we are called to renew our trust in Christ and from his life draw inspiration to fulfill our mission because ‘Jesus is the first and greatest evangelizer. In every activity of evangelization, the primacy always belongs...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Monday greeted members of the General Assembly of the Pallotine Fathers.
Pope Francis spoke of the charism of St. Vincent Pallotti, who founded the order in Rome in 1835, saying he was “blessed to recognize that Jesus is the Apostle of the Father - rich in mercy and full of mercy - [Christ] is the one who fulfills his mission by revealing to everyone the tender love and the infinite mercy of the Father.”
“Contemplating the life of Jesus and looking at our life as pilgrims in this world with its many challenges, we feel the necessity of a profound conversion and the urgency of reviving faith in Him,” – Pope Francis said – “This is the only way we can serve our neighbor in charity! Every day we are called to renew our trust in Christ and from his life draw inspiration to fulfill our mission because ‘Jesus is the first and greatest evangelizer. In every activity of evangelization, the primacy always belongs to God, who has called us to cooperate with him and who leads us on by the power of his Spirit.’” [Evangelii gaudium, 12).
The Holy Father urged the Pallotine Fathers to “continue with joy and hope on your path, engaging yourselves with all your heart and all your strength, so the charism of your Founder bears abundant fruit also in our time.”
“St. Vincent Pallotti liked to repeat that the call of the apostolate is not reserved to some, but is addressed to everyone, ‘regardless of their status, their condition, their profession, their fortune, all are able to take part,’” Pope Francis said.
Pope Francis then spoke of the Union of Catholic Apostolate (UAC), which fosters apostolic works in dioceses around the world. The UAC was also founded by St. Vincent Pallotti, and is under the pastoral care of the Pallotine Fathers.
The Pope said the apostolate “offers many spaces and opens new horizons to participate in the mission of the Church,” adding he was familiar with the UAC during his time in Argentina, and has fond memories of them.
Pope Francis called on them to work with “renewed vigour to reawaken faith and rekindle charity, especially among the most vulnerable segments of the population, the materially and spiritually poor.”
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