Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani visits the United Kingdom

By: Valentin Vuçaj

June 2026 is a blessed month for Albanians in Great Britain, as one of the most prominent clergymen of the Albanian regions and the only Albanian Cardinal in the Vatican, Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani, visited the United Kingdom at the invitation of the English Catholic Church and Albanian Catholic activists.

The Cardinal arrived at Gatwick Airport on Wednesday, June 10th at around 11:00 AM, accompanied by his assistant Mr. Preng Gjini.

The first official meeting took place at the British Parliament that same day, where Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani was welcomed by members of the United Kingdom Parliament. Mr. Martin Vickers (MP), etc., who personally took care of his visit. Mr. Vickers emphasized: “I am extremely happy to be meeting such a major figure of the Albanian community”.

On behalf of the Albanian community, in front of MPs, journalists and other attendees, Prof. Romeo Gurakuqi delivered the speech of the occasion in honor of Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani, describing him as a prominent figure of the Catholic Church and a living witness to the persecution suffered by the Albanian Catholic Church during the communist regime. In his speech, he noted the extraordinary historical contribution of the Catholic Church to Albanian national life, emphasizing that for centuries it preserved the Albanian language, spread education, strengthened national consciousness and kept alive Albania's ties with the cultural and spiritual tradition of Europe. According to him, it was precisely this moral, intellectual and patriotic authority that made the Church one of the main objectives of the communist dictatorship, which closed its institutions, confiscated church property and severely persecuted bishops, priests, religious, nuns and lay believers. Prof. Gurakuqi also recalled that the persecution of the Catholic community left deep consequences in Albanian society and expressed concern about the challenges facing northern Albania today, citing demographic decline, emigration and the need for a fairer assessment of the historical heritage and contribution of this community to the building of the Albanian state. Referring to the historical relations between Albania and the United Kingdom, he underlined the important role that Britain has played at key moments in protecting the international position of Albania and Kosovo, presenting this as evidence of a valuable friendship between the two peoples. In his tribute to Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani, Prof. Gurakuqi said: “You stand before us today as the last living representative of a heroic generation that refused to give up its faith, conscience and dignity.” In conclusion, he highly praised the testimony of the martyrs of the Albanian Catholic Church and expressed gratitude to the Holy See for recognizing their sacrifice, considering the beatification of the 38 Albanian martyrs as a great act of historical and spiritual justice, which honors the memory of those who gave their lives for religion, freedom and human dignity.

 

The Cardinal was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the United Kingdom, Mr. Uran Ferizi, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the United Kingdom, Mr. Ilir Kapiti, who accompanied the ambassador during his visit on the evening of June 10.

During his stay at the Palace of Westminster, Cardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani also prayed in the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, (https://www.parliament.uk/about/livingheritage/building/palace/estatehistory/the-middle-ages/chapel-st-mary-undercroft), the historic chapel within the parliamentary complex.

The prayer and visit to the chapel gave the visit a deep spiritual dimension, testifying to the presence of religion at the heart of British institutions.

Më 11 qershor, Kardinali vizitoi një nga bashkësitë e “Motrave të Nënë Terezës” në Londër

ku kremtoi edhe Meshën e Shenjtë. Po atë mbrëmje ai vizitoi Seminarin Dioqezan “St. Thomas More”. Rektori i seminarit, Father John O’Leary, e priti Kardinalin për lutjen e Mbrëmësores dhe organizoi një darkë në nder të Tij.

Mesha e kardinalit në Katedralen e Westminster

Ditën e premte më 12 Qershor 2026, sipas një njoftimi paraprak ishte lajmëruar komuniteti shqiptar, për mbajtjen e meshës në Katedralen Historike të Westminister .

Mijëra shqiptarë u mblodhën në Katedralen ikonike të Westministerit, (https://westminstercathedral.org.uk/), të shumtë në numër e nga të gjithë anët e Uk, përfshi shumë syresh me veshje kombëtare. Kardinali si në të gjitha rastet ishte gjithmonë rreth gjysmë ore përpara, duke filluar me takime e bekime qysh në oborrin e katedrales.

Mrekullia e kësaj meshe ishte prania masive e rreth 3000 shqiptarëve. Kardinali drejtoi kremtimin e meshës, kurse në krah të tij qëndronin Dom Kastriot Gjoka, Monignor Artur Kola dhe Fr. Salwomir Witon, Dekan i Katedrales Westminister).

Kardinali dhe besimtarët shqiptarë u nderuar gjithashtu me praninë e autoriteteve të larta të Kishës Katolike Angleze, si Richard Moth, (Kryepeshkop i Westminister dhe President i Konferencës së Fretenve për Angli dhe Wells), Miguel Maury Buendia,( Kryepeshkopi dhe Nunci Apostolik i Vatikanit për Britaninë e Madhe).

Ky kremtim solemn u shndërrua në një dëshmi të gjallë të unitetit të Kishës dhe të besimit të komunitetit katolik shqiptar në Mbretërinë e Bashkuar.

Pas kryerjes së ritualeve fetare, Kardinali u dha bekimin personalisht të gjithë të pranishmit një për një.

Pas Meshës, organizatorët mbajtën një darkë solemne, e cila nisi me lutjen e Kardinalit dhe u ndanë mesazhe mirënjohjeje, bashkimi dhe vëllazërie.

Mesha e Manchesterit

Të shtunën më 13 Qershor 2026, ishte planifikuar një vizitë në Manchester, ku Kardinal Ernest Simoni Troshani kremtoi Meshën e Shenjtë dhe u takua me besimtarët e komunitetit katolik.

Shumë prej tyre u prekën thellë nga prania e tij dhe nga dëshmia e fortë e besimit që ka shoqëruar gjithë jetën e tij, veçmas gjatë periudhës komuniste dhe respektin që Kardinali gëzon në qytetin e shenjtë të Vatikanit.

Mesha ne Mayfair dhe Pimlico

Të dielën më 14 Qershor 2026, në ora 11, Kardinali vijoi vizitën e tij baritore në Kishën Katolike Jesuit Church of The Immaculate Conception, për të bashkëmeshuar.

Më pas në orën 4 në Pimlico, ku kremtoi Meshën e Shenjtë e u lut me besimtarët, duke dhëne bekimin e tij. Gjithashtu u kremtua Sakramenti i Pagëzimit për disa foshnja të komunitetit, duke e shndërruar këtë ditë në një moment hiri dhe gëzimi.

    

The development of this visit for us as a community was not only a blessing from God but also a strengthening of our community in Great Britain, so often talked about. The presence of English ecclesiastical authorities, including the head of the Church and the Vatican Ambassador to Britain, as well as English Catholic believers, who were present and received the Cardinal's blessing, was seen as respect and gratitude for his personality.

Special thanks go to the organizing group of the Albanian Catholic Community of Great Britain, headed by Mons. Artur Kolë and Dom Kastriot Gjoka, Sisters of Honor Leonarda Pergega, Linda Pergega and Silva Jaku (SDS)

We warmly thank Prof. Romeo Gurakuqi for his presentation at the Parliament meeting and the ambassadors of Albania and Kosovo accredited to the United Kingdom.

We would like to thank with gratitude Mr. Gent Palaj, Mr. Anton Kooll Kaçubaj, Mr. Dorian Lula, Mr. Gjergj Rakaj, Mr. Çesk Sterkaj, Ms. Lirka Kadriu, Mr. Ardi Mujaj, journalist Martin Kiri, musician Mariela Çingo, Ms. Alma Panajoti, Mr. Kujtim Hasani and all the organizers of the Albanian Catholic Community in the United Kingdom, for the organization and smooth running of the visit of Cardinal Ernest Troshani Simoni.

London, June 2026