News

On 16 January, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, who is visiting the Vatican City, held meetings with representatives of the Holy See to discuss bilateral relations, cooperation within international and regional organisations, and other important international policy issues. Priorities for Lithuania’s membership of the United Nations Security Council are also important for the Holy See, particularly the protection of women and children in armed conflict, the fight against terrorism, and trafficking in human beings.

L.Linkevičius met with the Archbishop Pietro Parolin, Vatican’s Secretary of State, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States, Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

The Foreign Minister was glad that Lithuania was the first country to conclude all the legal agreements with the Holy See: the agreement concerning juridical aspects of the relations between the Catholic Church and the State, the agreement concerning the pastoral care of Catholics serving in the army, the agreement on cooperation in education and culture, and the agreement on the recognition of qualifications concerning higher education.

“The Holy See has never recognised the forcible incorporation of Lithuania into the Soviet Union. It has fostered values, such as peace, social justice, human dignity. It has always been Lithuania’s close partner, especially because the vast majority of believers in Lithuania are Roman Catholics,” the Lithuanian Foreign Minister said.

According to L.Linkevičius, the Pope’s visit to Lithuania would not only strengthen the bilateral relationship between Lithuania and the Holy See, but, first of all, would bring great joy to all the people of Lithuania who remember Pope John Paul II’s visit to Lithuania in 1993.

The Vatican’s representatives congratulated Lithuania on its successful Presidency of the Council of the European Union and pledged support for Lithuania as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The participants of the meeting also discussed issues related to the EU’s Eastern policy, the situation of Christians in Syria, the situation in Africa, and agreed to actively cooperate within international organizations.