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On 9 March in Vilnius, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis conferred the award of Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry - “Lithuanian Diplomacy Star” - on Cardinal Audrys Juozas Bačkis. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry’s award of honour is conferred on the high-ranking Catholic clergyman as a token of gratitude for his special merits to the consolidation of Lithuania’s statehood, the promotion of democratic values and human rights advocacy, and for his role in the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between Lithuania and the Holy See twenty years ago.

“You strengthen the spirit of the Lithuanian Catholic community and motivate us to excel, to look back at human values. Owing to such diplomats as you, today we live in a free and independent Lithuania, and it is with great pleasure, that I bestow on you the “Lithuanian Diplomacy Star” for strengthening the spiritual foundations of our state,” Minister A.Ažubalis said during the solemn ceremony at the Foreign Ministry.

In 1964, A.J.Bačkis entered the Vatican’s diplomatic service and served in the Holy See’s Apostolic Nunciatures in the Philippines, Costa Rica, Turkey, Nigeria and the Netherlands. The clergyman’s father Dr. Stasys Antanas Bačkis was a famous diplomat of Independent Lithuania.

“It is nice to know the face of our Lithuania’s diplomacy, the role of which is now especially expanding in the international arena and it is also well appreciated, because we work hand in hand to protect traditional values and human rights. Today we are concerned about the freedom of religion and that so many Christians and priests have to die,” A.J.Bačkis said.

The Minister, who is also the current Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), acquainted A.J.Bačkis with the initiative of Lithuania and Italy to hold an international conference in Rome in early May to discuss the anti-Christian sentiment and discrimination against Christians.

“Many diplomats of the newly Independent Lithuania recall with deep gratitude and respect, and appreciate your timely piece of advice, the exact description of the complicated international situation. We have always considered you a member of the diplomatic craft guild. Thanks to your effort, the Theological Seminary was restored in Vilnius, the Charity Dining Room was opened, also the Mother and Child Care Home and Mercy Care Home, the Family Centre and the Craft Centre were established,” the Lithuanian Foreign Minister noted.

A.J.Bačkis was ordained a priest 50 years ago, twenty years ago he was appointed as the Metropolitan Archbishop at the then newly established Metropolitan Archdiocese of Vilnius. Ten years ago the Pope John Paul II raised him to the cardinalate.

The award of honour of Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs - “Lithuanian Diplomacy Star” – has been conferred since 2010 on Lithuanian and foreign citizens and organizations for outstanding merits in promoting Lithuania’s name, fostering and developing interstate relations.