Blessed Qerim Sadiku

Feast Day

4-Mar

Born

18 February 1919 in Vudanje, Yugoslavia (modern Vuthaj, Shkodrë, Albania)

Died

Shot by a machine-gun squad at 6am on 4 March 1946 at the Varrezat e Rrmajit cemetery on the Rruga Hile Mosi in Shkodrë, Albania; the body was left laying outside for a day to show the locals what would happen to those who opposed the Communists; buried with other martyrs in a mass grave near the nearby river bed on the night of 5 March; rubbish bins were stacked on the grave to conceal it

Beatified

5 November 2016 by Pope Francis; beatification celebrated at the Square of the Cathedral of Shën Shtjefnit, Shkodër, Albania, presided by Cardinal Angelo Amato

Venerated

26 April 2016 by Pope Francis (decree of martyrdom)