THREE ACCORDS SIGNED BETWEEN THE HOLY SEE AND LITHUANIA

VATICAN CITY, MAY 5, 2000 (VIS) - Today in Vilnius, the Holy See and the Republic of Lithuania signed three Accords regarding, respectively, juridical questions, collaboration in the fields of education and culture and the pastoral ministry to Catholics serving in the Army, according to a communique published early this afternoon.

Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio in Lithuania, signed for the Holy See, and Algirdas Saudargas, foreign affairs minister, signed for Lithuania.

In these Accords, "the State guarantees the Church free exercise of her mission, in particular for that which concerns worship, pastoral governing, teaching and other aspects of ecclesial life. Civil effects are recognized for canonical marriages. Furthermore, the Republic of Lithuania guarantees the Catholic Church the right to pastoral ministry to the faithful who are in hospitals or in social and welfare institutions, orphanages and penal institutes. The Church can freely set up and run charitable works within the social sphere, in conformity with civil legislation. Catholic schools at all levels are, for all practical purposes, equal to State schools with the same rights and duties. ... It is foreseen that a Military Ordinariate will be established for the pastoral ministry of Catholics serving in the army."

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