Cardinal Simoni says faith sustained him through death sentence for Mass honoring President Kennedy

In 1963, Albanian Cardinal Ernest Simoni was arrested and sentenced to death by Albaniaʼs communist, officially atheist government after celebrating a Mass for the late U.S. President John F. Kennedy for the repose of his soul.

In an interview with Mark Irons of “ EWTN News In Depth ,” the 98-year-old Simoni explained how he escaped death through remaining steadfast in faith.

Simoni was imprisoned and tortured for practicing his faith, and eventually his death sentence was commuted to forced labor. Simoni continued secretly to say daily Mass as the Communist Party tried to eradicate religion across their region.

Though many understood the risks involved, no one informed the communist authorities. Had the regime discovered what he was doing, he said, he likely would have been hanged. He credited his survival solely to Godʼs grace.

After the Party of Labor of Albania was dissolved in 1991, Simoni was freed from manual labor under state surveillance. He doesn’t speak much about torture he experienced.

“They also took me into the army…and had me march, for 16 hours marching...without eating, or drinking, I was dying,” Simoni said. “Thank God, he wanted me to be saved. There…