Mikel Koliqi, Catholic clergyman, cardinal, musician, composer, was born in Shkodër. He started elementary school in Shkodër and finished it in 1911 at the “Arici” college of the Jesus Fathers in Brescia, Italy. In Italy, he completed high school, partly in Monxa and partly in Bergamo and Bari. In this period he made the decision to become a priest, leaving his studies halfway through the second year, to continue the theological studies at the “Corso di Venezia” seminary in Milan and later at the Vonogonos seminary (1928–1930). On May 30, 1931, he was ordained a priest in the Jesuit Church of Shkodra, by the Archbishop of Shkodra, Monsignor Lazër Mjeda (1869–1935). As soon as he finished his studies, before returning to Shkodër, where he was appointed assistant parish priest, he turned to Luigj Bumçi to send him to a music school. He was sent to Austria next to a famous choir. He composed and performed on stage three melodramas with a strong patriotic emphasis “Rozafa”, “Rrethimi i Shkodrës” (“The siege of Shkoder”) and “Ruba e kuqe“ (“The red robe”), as well as about 40 choral pieces. He founded the magazine “Kumbona e së diellës“ (“Sunday bell”) and directed it as editor-in-chief from the first issue (1938) until it was closed with his arrest on February 2, 1945. He was released four years later, but soon after arrested again and sentenced to exile. In 1977, at the age of 75, he was sentenced for the third time to fifteen years in prison. He was released with the amnesty of 1986. On January 31, 1992, he was given the title “Monsignor”. After the opening of the churches, he was appointed vicar, a task he handed over himself due to age. On November 28, 1994, he was ordained a cardinal in the Vatican by Pope John Paul II himself (1978–2005). He passed away in 1997. (In the photo: Mikel Koliqi)
Text: Encyclopedic dictionary of victims of communist terror – Vol. IV , “West Print”, Institute for the Study of Crimes and Consequences of Communism, Tirana, 2015, page 294.
Graphic processing: AHCF
