Father Zef Pllumi was born on August 28, 1924, in Mount of Renci in Shengjin, Lezha. He studied at the “Illyricum” lyceum of the Franciscan fathers and received comprehensive education in various fields, including theology, literature, and philosophy. He also demonstrated proficiency in foreign languages, mastering Italian, French, German, Latin, and ancient Greek.

On December 14, 1946, he was arrested and sentenced to a three-year prison term during a 22-year period. Between 1949 and 1951, he wholeheartedly immersed himself in the study of ancient coins at the Shkodra Museum. Later, he served as a priest in the Dukagjin area for approximately 12 years. During the notorious year of 1967, he was arrested and subsequently endured 23 years in various prisons and camps, including Spaç, Reps, Ballsh, Skrofotina of Vlora, Zejmen-Shën Koll, Shën Vasil, and Tirana.

In 1990, he returned to Tirana as a cleric. In addition to his religious duties, he contributed to the realms of culture and education, which had suffered significant setbacks over the course of fifty years.

Under his guidance, from 1993 to 1997, he once again revived the publication of the magazine “Hylli i Dritës”. Father Zef Pllumi authored the trilogy “Rrno për me tregue,” along with volumes such as “The Great Franciscans,” “Ut heri dicebamus,” “Frati i pashallari Bushatlli Erazmo Balneo,” and “Saga e Fëmijnisë”.

One of his invaluable initiatives was the reissuing of the complete collection of works by the Franciscan fathers, which had been brutally removed from circulation during the years of communism. He also played a crucial role in the endeavor to locate the remains of Father Gjergj Fishta.

In 2006, he was honored with the “Honour of the Nation” award by the President of the Republic. During the same year, he was also bestowed with the “Pena e Artë” literary award for his trilogy of memoirs, “Rrno për me tregue,” presented by the Ministry of Culture of Albania.

He passed away on September 25, 2007, in Roma, Italy, and was laid to rest on September 30, 2007, in Shkodër.

/m.ll/