The statue of Dom Mikel Beltojë is inaugurated/Monsignor Peragine: He was the last priest to be shot by the regime of the time

2025-08-11 19:23:00, Qyteti im CNA

The statue of Dom Mikel Beltojë is inaugurated/Monsignor Peragine: He was

In the parish of Bërdica in Shkodra, the Catholic Church inaugurated the statue of Dom Mikel Beltojë, the last priest executed by the communist regime. The Archbishop of Shkodra, Giovani Peragine, stated that the figure of Dom Mikel Beltojë is still today a call for courage and to receive his spiritual legacy.

The statue of Dom Mikel Beltojë is inaugurated/Monsignor Peragine: He was

"I am truly very happy to be present at this blessing of this statue which brings to the homeland one of the great figures of the Catholic Church. The figure of Dom Mikeli, with all his testimony, is a great historical and national treasure. Even after the proclamation of the secular state, he did not stop fulfilling his priestly mission and was also the last priest captured by the communist regime. He made the decision to become a priest after seeing how other priests were being shot. Dom Mikeli does not belong only to the past, but he also speaks to us about the present. May his work be an inspiration to live in faith and with faith for good works," said the Archbishop.

The statue of Dom Mikel Beltojë is inaugurated/Monsignor Peragine: He was

"Praise be to Christ, with these words on August 10, 1973 Dom Mikel Beltoja began the investigation against him, a process that would lead him to physical annihilation and physical eternity. Glory is written by those who sacrifice and do not look at their personal interest. He rejected slavery to live free. Love always triumphs over violence, freedom over dictatorship. It is to remind us that freedom, truth and God are more sacred. I feel privileged to serve in a country that has given the Church of Albania a person like him. I am grateful to the residents who are in emigration for the help and support given. Thank you also to those who were poorer, but who chose to throw a stone on this statue", said Mark Pashkja, Parish Priest of Bërdicë, Spokesperson of the Catholic Church.

Dom Mikel Beltoja was born in 1935 in the village of Beltojë and on April 19, 1973 he was arrested and spent 6 months under torture in the interrogation room. Even in court, he stood by his religion and beliefs and openly spoke out against the dictatorship. On February 10, 1974, when he was 29 years old, he was shot after the communist court commuted his sentence from 7 years to the death penalty. Dom Mikel Beltoja is one of the 37 Albanian Catholic martyrs beatified by the Vatican in 2016. /CNA