On the June 20th, 2024, the Holy Father Francis received in audience Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, and authorized the promulgation of the following decree concerning the General Postulation of the Friars Minor, concerning two martyrs, a friar minor, and a contemplative religious.
The Decree contains, amongst others, the approval of the martyrdom of the Servant of God Gjon Gazulli, diocesan priest, born in Dajç di Zadriman, diocese of Sappa, Albania, on the 26th March, 1893, and killed in hatred of the faith in Shkodra on he 5th March, 1927.
Fr Gjon Gazulli, a priest of the diocese of Sappa carried out his ministry as parish priest in Gjader, Qelëz, and then, from 1925, in Koman. His martyrdom dates back to the regime of Achmet Zogu, president of the Republic of Albania from January 1925, who was hostile to the Catholic clergy.
Fr Gazulli in his pastoral action was inspired by the nascent social doctrine of the Church, so his work was not well regarded by the regime. When a revolt against Zogu broke out in Dukagjin in November 1926, the Servant of God was unjustly accused of fomenting it and was arrested on the 28th December, 1926. In reality, the accusation was a pretext because the odium fidei against him stemmed from his opposition to the government's plan to suppress Catholic schools.
He was sentenced to death by a sentence pronounced by the political court on the 10th February, 1927. The sentence by hanging was carried out publicly on the 5th March, 1927. Before dying, the Servant of God confirmed his full adherence to Christ by saying: "I die innocent. Long live Christ, our King! Long live the Catholic Church! Long live the Pope! Long live Albania and the real Albanians!"
His death was perceived by the faithful as a true martyrdom and his fame remained alive even during the years of communist persecution in Albania. The tomb of the Servant of God in the cemetery of Shkodra is constantly visited and many graces have been received through his intercession.
The Cause of Gjon Gazulli began in 2002 and, like the other Causes of Beatification of the Martyrs of the Archdiocese of Shkodra Pult, was entrusted to the Postulator General of the Order of Friars Minor, Rev. Fr. Luca M. De Rosa.
