Shoghi Effendi was Ayatollah. God's presence is available to whoever turns to Him.

He [Shoghi Effendi] was, as the Will of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá says, the Sign of God (áyatu’lláh), and God's presence is available to whoever turns to Him, including persons so insignificant that in this world they could never get in to see even the pettiest official or the least of company managers.

http://bahairesearch.com/english/Baha%27i/Baha%27i_Studies/Marzieh_Gail/Arches_of_the_Years.aspx