The Seal of Peace to Cardinal Ernest Simoni

The Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, presented the Seal of Peace, made by Paolo Penko, to Cardinal Ernest Simoni.

President of the Republic of Albania Ilir Meta and Archbishop Giuseppe Betori were also present.

“It is a great honour to present this award to Don Ernest Simoni for his testimony as a man of peace, freedom and peace”.

It was with these words that Mayor Dario Nardella presented the Seal of Peace to Cardinal Ernest Simoni, an Albanian religious who was persecuted under the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and who has been living in Florence for some time.

Present at the ceremony in the Salone dei Cinquento were the President of the Republic of Albania, Ilir Meta, and the Archbishop of Florence, Cardinal Giuseppe Betori. “Don Simoni, who has lived in Florence for years, represents a further link between Florence and Albania.

Today is a double celebration for our city. Not only for the awarding of the Seal of Peace to Don Simoni, but also for the celebration of his 90th birthday,” added the mayor, who also recalled some of the personalities who have received the award in the past, such as John Paul II, Mikhail Gorbachev and the Dalai Lama.

For years Don Simoni, who was appointed cardinal by Pope Francis in 2016, has been welcomed into the diocese of Florence and Cardinal Betori has appointed him honorary canon of the Metropolitan Chapter.