Kaunas (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Kęstutis Kėvalas, Archbishop
Saulius Bužauskas, Auxiliary Bishop
Sigitas Tamkevičius, S.J., Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus
Lionginas Virbalas, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 4 April 1926
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Lithuania
Square Kilometers: 8,750 (3,379 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://kaunas.lcn.lt/
Mailing Address: Rotuses 14/a, 44279 Kaunas, Lietuva
Telephone: (37)409.026

Historical Details

Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź)
- Latin Name: Samogitiensis (seu Mednicensis)
- Erected: 1417
- Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Mohilev
- Country: Lithuania
- Description: (Originally at Miedniki); Telszi

Past and Present Ordinaries

Maciej z Trok † (24 Oct 1417 Appointed - 4 May 1422 Appointed, Bishop of Vilnius)
Nicolas Comedani Dzierzgo † (25 Jul 1423 Appointed - )
Jerzy z Wilna † (19 Feb 1453 Appointed - 25 Feb 1464 Died)
Barthelemy Lithuanus † (13 Feb 1471 Appointed - 1482 Died)
Martin de Samogitia † (21 Feb 1483 Appointed - 1492 Died)
Marcin Jan Lintfari † (8 Oct 1492 Appointed - 1515 Died)
Mikolaj Radziwiłł, O.F.M. † (6 Jul 1515 Appointed - 1529 Died)
Nicolas Wilgaito † (15 Feb 1531 Appointed - 1532 Died)
Wacław Wierzbicki † (13 Apr 1534 Appointed - 18 Jul 1555 Died)
Joannes Domaniewski † (13 Apr 1556 Appointed - 1563 Died)
Stanislaw Narkustki † (21 Jun 1564 Appointed - 13 Feb 1565 Died)
Wiktoryn Wierzbicki † (8 Jun 1565 Appointed - 22 Aug 1567 Appointed, Bishop of Lutsk (Łuck))
Jerzy Pietkiewicz † (14 Nov 1567 Appointed - 1574 Died)
Melchior Giedroyć † (16 Jan 1576 Appointed - 6 Apr 1609 Died)
Nicolas Pac † (29 Mar 1610 Appointed - 1618 Resigned)
Stanislas Kiszka (Kyška) † (26 Nov 1618 Appointed - 1625 Died)
Abraham Wojna † (20 Jul 1626 Appointed - 24 Mar 1631 Appointed, Bishop of Vilnius)
Merkelis Elijaševičius Heliaszewich (Geišas) † (11 Jun 1631 Appointed - 28 Jan 1633 Died)
Jerzy Tyszkiewicz † (19 Dec 1633 Appointed - 9 Dec 1649 Appointed, Bishop of Vilnius)
Petras Parčevskis † (9 Dec 1649 Appointed - 6 Dec 1658 Died)
Aleksander Kazimierz Sapieha † (12 Jan 1660 Appointed - 18 Jul 1667 Appointed, Bishop of Vilnius)
Kazimieras (Kazimierz) Pacas (Pac) † (3 Oct 1667 Appointed - 1695 Died)
Jonas Jeronimas Krišpinas † (19 Sep 1695 Appointed - 14 Jul 1708 Died)
Jan Mikołaj Zgierski † (21 Jul 1710 Appointed - 6 Dec 1713 Died)
Paweł Franciszek Bernard Sapieha, O. Cist. † (21 Jan 1715 Appointed - 1 Oct 1715 Died)
Aleksander Mikołaj Horain † (7 Dec 1716 Appointed - 7 Dec 1735 Died)
Jozafat Micheł Karp † (19 Nov 1736 Appointed - 10 Dec 1739 Died)
Antoni Dominik Tyszkiewicz † (16 Sep 1740 Confirmed - 31 Jan 1762 Died)
Jan Dominik Łopaciński † (19 Apr 1762 Confirmed - 11 Jan 1778 Died)
Jan Stefan Giedroyć † (30 Mar 1778 Confirmed - 13 May 1802 Died)
Józef Arnulf Giedroyć † (13 May 1802 Succeeded - 17 Jul 1838 Died)
Szymon Michal Józef Arnold Giedroyć † (17 Jul 1838 Succeeded - Sep 1844 Died)
Motiejus Wołonczewscki † (28 Sep 1849 Appointed - 29 May 1875 Died)
Aleksander Kazimierz Bereśniewicz † (30 May 1875 Appointed - 15 Mar 1883 Appointed, Bishop of Włocławek (Kujawy, Kalisze))
Mieczyslaw Leonard Pallulon † (15 Mar 1883 Appointed - 2 May 1908 Died)
Kasper Felicjan Cyrtowt † (7 Apr 1910 Appointed - 20 Sep 1913 Died)
Pranciškus Karevičius (Karewicz), M.I.C. † (20 Feb 1914 Appointed - 23 Mar 1926 Resigned)
Juozapas Skvireckas † (5 Apr 1926 Appointed - 3 Dec 1959 Died)
Vincentas Sladkevičius, M.I.C. † (10 Mar 1989 Appointed - 4 May 1996 Retired)
Sigitas Tamkevičius, S.J. (4 May 1996 Appointed - 11 Jun 2015 Retired)
Lionginas Virbalas, S.J. (11 Jun 2015 Appointed - 1 Mar 2019 Resigned)
Kęstutis Kėvalas (19 Feb 2020 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź)
1417	Erected	Diocese of Vilnius	Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź) (erected)
22 September 1918	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Mohilev Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź)	Diocese of Riga (erected)
9 June 1920	Territory Lost	Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź) (Courland (within Latvia))	Diocese of Riga
4 April 1926	Territory Lost	Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź) (Panevėžys, Šeduvys (except Badviliškis and Šiaulėnai with Polekelė), Pasvali, Birži, Kupiški, Bokiški, Zarasi, Baguvensis, Anykštensis (except for Kurkliai and Balninkai), Uténensis (...)	Diocese of Panevėžys (erected)
4 April 1926	Territory Lost	Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź) (Alsėdii, Kaltinėnai, Kuršėnai, Palanga, Rietava, Seda, Skuoda, Švėkšna, Telšiai, Tauragė, Varnii, and Viekšnii)	Diocese of Telšiai (erected)
Archdiocese of Kaunas
4 April 1926	Elevated	Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź)	Archdiocese of Kaunas
28 May 1997	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Kaunas Diocese of Panevėžys Diocese of Telšiai (-Klaipeda)	Diocese of Šiauliai (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Kaunas

1950 560,000 640,000 87.5% 120 ap1951

1970 187 187 0 122 ap1971

1980 154 154 0 122 ap1981

1990 500,000 150 150 3,333 124 ap1991

1999 532,000 763,400 69.7% 99 23 122 4,360 32 356 92 ap2000

2000 531,800 763,200 69.7% 96 23 119 4,468 32 372 92 ap2001

2001 512,570 760,000 67.4% 101 22 123 4,167 38 275 92 ap2002

2002 506,000 750,000 67.5% 107 26 133 3,804 44 283 92 ap2003

2003 500,000 620,000 80.6% 112 29 141 3,546 44 286 92 ap2004

2004 503,000 618,000 81.4% 109 29 138 3,644 1 42 259 90 ap2005

2006 529,800 635,800 83.3% 113 22 135 3,924 1 35 241 90 ap2007

2013 533,000 665,000 80.2% 113 20 133 4,007 23 191 91 ap2014

2016 524,000 655,000 80.0% 106 18 124 4,225 19 177 92 ap2017

2019 362,000 437,000 82.8% 102 25 127 2,850 3 27 160 92 ap2020

2021 355,000 433,000 82.0% 99 25 124 2,862 6 27 154 92 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Kaunas
1950	560,000	640,000	87.5%								120	ap1951
1970				187		187	0				122	ap1971
1980				154		154	0				122	ap1981
1990	500,000			150		150	3,333				124	ap1991
1999	532,000	763,400	69.7%	99	23	122	4,360		32	356	92	ap2000
2000	531,800	763,200	69.7%	96	23	119	4,468		32	372	92	ap2001
2001	512,570	760,000	67.4%	101	22	123	4,167		38	275	92	ap2002
2002	506,000	750,000	67.5%	107	26	133	3,804		44	283	92	ap2003
2003	500,000	620,000	80.6%	112	29	141	3,546		44	286	92	ap2004
2004	503,000	618,000	81.4%	109	29	138	3,644	1	42	259	90	ap2005
2006	529,800	635,800	83.3%	113	22	135	3,924	1	35	241	90	ap2007
2013	533,000	665,000	80.2%	113	20	133	4,007		23	191	91	ap2014
2016	524,000	655,000	80.0%	106	18	124	4,225		19	177	92	ap2017
2019	362,000	437,000	82.8%	102	25	127	2,850	3	27	160	92	ap2020
2021	355,000	433,000	82.0%	99	25	124	2,862	6	27	154	92	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Audrys Juozas Bačkis (Priest: 18 Mar 1961 to 5 Aug 1988)
Eugenijus Bartulis (Priest: 30 May 1976 to 28 May 1997)
Saulius Bužauskas (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Feb 2023)
Jonas Ivanauskas (Priest: 14 Apr 1985; Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Oct 2003 to 11 Feb 2012)
Algirdas Jurevičius (Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Jul 2018 to 1 Jun 2020; Apostolic Administrator: 1 Mar 2019 to 24 Jun 2020)
Kęstutis Kėvalas (Priest: 29 Jun 2000; Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Sep 2012 to 20 Apr 2017; Archbishop: 19 Feb 2020 - )
Rimantas Norvila (Priest: 24 Feb 1991; Auxiliary Bishop: 28 May 1997 to 5 Jan 2002)
Sigitas Tamkevičius, S.J. (Priest: 18 Apr 1962 to Aug 1968; Auxiliary Bishop: 8 May 1991; Archbishop: 4 May 1996 to 11 Jun 2015)
Lionginas Virbalas, S.J. (Archbishop: 11 Jun 2015 to 1 Mar 2019)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Anton Baranowski † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Mar 1884 to 2 Aug 1897)
Aleksander Kazimierz Bereśniewicz † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Sep 1858; Bishop: 30 May 1875 to 15 Mar 1883)
Jerzy Białłozor †
Jonas Algimantas Boruta, S.J. †
Vincentas Brizgys † (Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Apr 1940 to 23 Apr 1992)
Tadeusz Józef Bukaty † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Jul 1786 to 12 May 1796)
Michael Chomiński † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 Aug 1765 to 12 Apr 1776)
Nicolas Comedani Dzierzgo † (Bishop: 25 Jul 1423)
Kasper Felicjan Cyrtowt † (Deacon: 10 Mar 1867; Priest: 16 Mar 1868; Auxiliary Bishop: 2 Aug 1897; Bishop: 7 Apr 1910 to 20 Sep 1913)
Antanas Louis Deksnys † (Priest: 30 May 1931 to 12 Apr 1969)
Joannes Domaniewski † (Bishop: 13 Apr 1556 to 1563)
Ignacy Giedrojć † (Coadjutor Bishop: 24 May 1824 to 15 Feb 1829)
Jan Stefan Giedroyć † (Bishop: 30 Mar 1778 to 13 May 1802)
Józef Arnulf Giedroyć † (Coadjutor Bishop: 11 Apr 1791; Bishop: 13 May 1802 to 17 Jul 1838)
Melchior Giedroyć † (Bishop: 16 Jan 1576 to 6 Apr 1609)
Szymon Michal Józef Arnold Giedroyć † (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Aug 1804; Coadjutor Bishop: Dec 1829; Bishop: 17 Jul 1838 to Sep 1844)
Aleksander Kazimierz Gintowt-Dziewaltowski †
Merkelis Elijaševičius Heliaszewich (Geišas) † (Bishop: 11 Jun 1631 to 28 Jan 1633)
Aleksander Kazimierz Horain † (Auxiliary Bishop: 24 Sep 1731 to 3 Jun 1765)
Aleksander Mikołaj Horain † (Bishop: 7 Dec 1716 to 7 Dec 1735)
Jerzy Iwaszkiewicz †
Anton Karaś (Karosas) † (Priest: 26 Jun 1883 to 12 Nov 1906)
Pranciškus Karevičius (Karewicz), M.I.C. † (Deacon: 2 May 1885; Priest: 17 May 1886; Bishop: 20 Feb 1914 to 23 Mar 1926)
Jozafat Micheł Karp † (Bishop: 19 Nov 1736 to 10 Dec 1739)
Stanislas Kiszka (Kyška) † (Bishop: 26 Nov 1618 to 1625)
Jan Kosakiewicz † (Auxiliary Bishop: 31 Aug 1643 to 1647)
Adam Kościa † (Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Jun 1780 to 16 Oct 1791)
Romualdas Krikšciunas † (Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Nov 1969 to 6 Jul 1973)
Jonas Jeronimas Krišpinas † (Bishop: 19 Sep 1695 to 14 Jul 1708)
Marcin Jan Lintfari † (Bishop: 8 Oct 1492 to 1515)
Barthelemy Lithuanus † (Bishop: 13 Feb 1471 to 1482)
Jan Dominik Łopaciński † (Bishop: 19 Apr 1762 to 11 Jan 1778)
Józef Leon Łopaciński † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Apr 1776 to 16 Jan 1786)
Antonin Malinowski, O.P. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 23 Sep 1782 to 30 Jun 1816)
Juozapas Matulaitis-Labukas † (Apostolic Administrator: 24 Nov 1965 to 28 May 1979)
Bl. Teofilius Matulionis †
Vladas Michelevičius † (Priest: 31 Oct 1948; Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Nov 1986 to 13 Jul 1999)
Stanislaw Narkustki † (Bishop: 21 Jun 1564 to 13 Feb 1565)
Edward Aleksander Wladyslaw O’Rourke † (Priest: 27 Oct 1907 to 29 Sep 1918)
Nicolas Pac † (Bishop: 29 Mar 1610 to 1618)
Kazimieras (Kazimierz) Pacas (Pac) † (Bishop: 3 Oct 1667 to 1695)
Mieczyslaw Leonard Pallulon † (Bishop: 15 Mar 1883 to 2 May 1908)
Petras Parčevskis † (Bishop: 9 Dec 1649 to 6 Dec 1658)
Jerzy Pietkiewicz † (Bishop: 14 Nov 1567 to 1574)
Juozapas Pletkus †
Liudas Povilonis, M.I.C. † (Coadjutor Apostolic Administrator: 7 Jul 1973; Apostolic Administrator: 28 May 1979 to 27 Apr 1988)
Juozas Preikšas † (Auxiliary Bishop: 31 Oct 1984; Apostolic Administrator: 27 Apr 1988 to 2 Apr 1989)
Mikolaj Radziwiłł, O.F.M. † (Bishop: 6 Jul 1515 to 1529)
Martin de Samogitia † (Bishop: 21 Feb 1483 to 1492)
Aleksander Kazimierz Sapieha † (Bishop: 12 Jan 1660 to 18 Jul 1667)
Paweł Franciszek Bernard Sapieha, O. Cist. † (Bishop: 21 Jan 1715 to 1 Oct 1715)
Gregorius Sepozrinski † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Apr 1647 to 1650)
Joachim Skirmunt † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Aug 1701 to 5 Dec 1718)
Juozapas Skvireckas † (Auxiliary Bishop: 10 Mar 1919; Archbishop: 5 Apr 1926 to 3 Dec 1959)
Vincentas Sladkevičius, M.I.C. † (Archbishop: 10 Mar 1989 to 4 May 1996)
Stanisław Jacek Święcicki, C.R.S.A. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Mar 1651 to 8 Feb 1677)
Maciej z Trok † (Bishop: 24 Oct 1417 to 4 May 1422)
Antoni Dominik Tyszkiewicz † (Bishop: 16 Sep 1740 to 31 Jan 1762)
Jerzy Tyszkiewicz † (Bishop: 19 Dec 1633 to 9 Dec 1649)
Antonijs Urbšs (Urbbs) †
Wacław Wierzbicki † (Bishop: 13 Apr 1534 to 18 Jul 1555)
Wiktoryn Wierzbicki † (Bishop: 8 Jun 1565 to 22 Aug 1567)
Nicolas Wilgaito † (Bishop: 15 Feb 1531 to 1532)
Jerzy z Wilna † (Bishop: 19 Feb 1453 to 25 Feb 1464)
Abraham Wojna † (Bishop: 20 Jul 1626 to 24 Mar 1631)
Motiejus Wołonczewscki † (Bishop: 28 Sep 1849 to 29 May 1875)
Johannes Wyszemierski † (Auxiliary Bishop: 5 May 1628)
Wladyslaw Michal Zaleski †
Jan Mikołaj Zgierski † (Bishop: 21 Jul 1710 to 6 Dec 1713)
Michał Jan Zienkowicz † (Auxiliary Bishop: 27 Jun 1718 to 2 Oct 1730)
Benedykt Żuchorski † (Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Apr 1681 to 1700)

Source(s)

Diocese of Žemaičiai (Samogizia o Tels; Żmudź)
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 1, Page 333
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 2, Page 188
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 3, Page 239
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 4, Page 304
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 5, Page 342
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 6, Page 365
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 7, Page 332
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 357
Archdiocese of Kaunas
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 18, Page 121, to Page 123

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Archdiocese of Kaunas

Archidioecesis Kaunensis