Mikel Koliqi

Mikel Cardinal Koliqi ( born September 29, 1902 in Shkodra, Albania, † 28 January 1997 ) was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church.

Life

Mikel Koliqi studied in Milan the subjects philosophy and Catholic theology. He received on 30 May 1931, the sacrament of Holy Orders, and then worked as a chaplain in the Archdiocese of Shkodra. From 1936 he served as vicar general of the administration of the major Albanian diocese. He founded the Kathedralschola, served as editor of a Catholic weekly newspaper and wrote stage works.

After 1945, he spent 21 years in prison and had to do forced labor as a political prisoner of the communist regime, because listening to foreign radio stations and dedication to the Catholic youth he was accused of. In 1986, he was dismissed on grounds of age from prison.

Pope John Paul II took Mikel Koliqi 1994 as cardinal deacon with the title Diakonia Ognissanti in Via Appia Nuova in the College of Cardinals to. On an episcopal ordination was waived because of the advanced age and poor health Koliqis. Mikel Koliqi died on 28 January 1997 in Shkodra and was buried in the local cathedral.