Cardinal describes ‘joyous’ profession of Catholic priesthood
Cardinal Ernest Simoni – the ‘joyous’ profession of the priesthood
Sarah Mac Donald
Priesthood is “the most joyous profession there can be” and there is “nothing more fulfilling than to be Jesus’ mouthpiece,” 97-year-old Cardinal Ernest Simoni of Albania has said.
Speaking to The Tablet at Ireland’s national seminary in Maynooth, the cardinal said he wanted the seminarians studying for priesthood to “go forth and tell anybody and everybody who will listen that Jesus gave his life for us”.
Through an interpreter, Cardinal Simoni told the Tablet, “I want the world to see and take example from these seminarians here in Ireland who are taking the word of God forwards and onwards to other people.
“I feel Ireland is the shield of Catholicism in Europe and throughout the world and I hope the [seminarians] can keep that flame going.”
As a young priest he endured decades of imprisonment, torture, and forced hard labour under the communist Hoxha regime in Albania.
He was in Ireland as a guest of Aid to the Church in Need Ireland. His visit to Maynooth was to inspire the seminarians through the witness of a living martyr.
The visit came as the Irish Church announced a slight rise in the number of seminarians beginning their studies for diocesan priesthood this year compared to last year.
“The number of those in training for diocesan priesthood continues to rise. While the increase is modest, it is very encouraging,” Bishop Phonsie Cullinan, chair of the Council for Vocations of the Bishops’ Conference said.
Fifteen students have begun their studies this autumn up from 13 in 2025 but down from 21 in 2024.
There are now 74 seminarians in formation for diocesan priesthood in Ireland, 51 are studying in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Dundalk; while another eight are based in seminaries on the continent.
In 1963, the then Fr Simoni was sentenced to death by the Albanian authorities but his sentence was later commuted to 25 years of hard labour. He spent 18 years in strict confinement, primarily at the notorious Spaç Prison labour camp, where he ministered to fellow inmates.
Despite the dangers, he regularly celebrated Mass from memory in Latin using breadcrumbs and juice squeezed from grapes for the Eucharist.
He also continued to hear confessions and offered spiritual guidance to prisoners at immense personal risk.
In 1973, he was sentenced to death for a second time, but the execution was commuted after other prisoners testified on his behalf.
In 2016, Pope Francis appointed him a cardinal in recognition of his lifelong witness to the faith.
The prelate who turns 98 next month said of his difficult years of persecution, “What sustained me was what Jesus told us: ‘if you suffer because of me, if you suffer in my name, if they torture and persecute you in my name you will be blessed’.”
In Latin the Cardinal, who has forgiven his tormentors, quoted to The tablet Jesus’ teaching on loving those who persecute you.
“There are no two ways about it – no ifs or buts – there is no middle way. You are either with Him or against Him. With Him means to love those who have persecuted you because you will find eternal joy through and in Jesus.”
He lamented that there are 57 nations shedding each other’s blood today and also warned that the devil’s “best and most powerful weapon is sexual vice” which comes between a man and a woman in holy matrimony or in homosexuality or pornography.
“To love Jesus means to first and foremost defend and protect Holy Matrimony,” he said.
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