Tirana: The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has announced the unexpected passing of Bishop Simon Kulli of Sapë, a leading figure in Albania’s post-communist Catholic revival. He died on Saturday, Nov. 29, at the age of 52, leaving behind a legacy deeply intertwined with the Church’s emergence from decades of state-imposed atheism.
Bishop Kulli belonged to the first generation of priests formed after the fall of Albania’s communist regime, widely regarded as one of the most aggressively anti-religious dictatorships of the 20th century. ACN, with which he worked closely on pastoral and humanitarian projects, expressed profound sorrow at his death, praising his “invaluable service to the Church, his country, and humanity.”
During a visit to ACN’s international headquarters earlier this year, Bishop Kulli shared the moment that shaped his priestly calling. He recalled witnessing an elderly priest imprisoned for 28 years under the communist regime celebrate Mass in Latin for the first time after religious freedom was restored.
“Watching that suffering priest, bent over the altar from the years of torture, I felt my vocation awaken,” Bishop Kulli recounted. “I thought I could take his place.”
His own early life bore the marks of persecution. He was secretly baptized as an infant by Sr Marije Kaleta, a Stigmatine nun renowned for covertly bringing the Eucharist to the sick and baptizing children despite the constant threat of arrest. “If the authorities had discovered my baptism, my grandparents and family would have ended up in prison,” he said in a February interview.
Bishop Kulli grew up surrounded by the stories of Albania’s “living martyrs” priests, religious, and laypeople who endured imprisonment, torture, and forced labour for refusing to renounce their faith. Their witness shaped him profoundly.
“They gave me hope,” he said. “Even though I was never imprisoned, I knew what it meant to live in a country where faith our deepest sustenance was forbidden. Their testimonies became a wellspring of courage for my priesthood.”
His ministry extended beyond the diocese, serving as the Albanian Bishops’ Conference commissioner for healthcare pastoral care and as a member of the Executive Committee of the European Federation of Catholic Medical Associations.
Bishop Kulli was deeply involved in promoting the legacy of Albania’s martyrs 38 beatified in 2016 and two more in 2024. He often spoke of their enduring influence: “Their blood will inspire many vocations,” he affirmed.
In 2024, during a pastoral visit by ACN representatives to four Albanian dioceses, he reiterated his gratitude for the foundation’s support, especially in strengthening the Church in regions still recovering from decades of repression.
In what would become his last interview with ACN, Bishop Kulli offered words of encouragement to persecuted Christians around the world: “After death, there is always resurrection… Stay strong and do not fear, because Christ always wins. With Christ, you can overcome any difficulty.”
ACN paid tribute to him as a shepherd whose humility, steadfast faith, and joyful witness will continue to shape Albania’s renewed Catholic community. “His testimony will bear much fruit for the Church in Albania,” the foundation said. “May he rest in eternal peace.”