Gitanas NausÄ—da presented Archbishop Gallagher with a state decoration

President Gitanas Nausėda presented Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Holy See, with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas. The state decoration was awarded in recognition of his personal contribution to strengthening and fostering relations between Lithuania and the Holy See, as well as his tireless efforts to promote Christian values.

Archbishop Gallagher is visiting Lithuania as the special envoy of Pope Leo XIV. He is taking part in the events marking the centenary of the establishment of the Ecclesiastical Province of Lithuania. According to the President, this document ranks alongside the Act of Independence of 16 February 1918 in terms of its historical significance, as it established the first autonomous Ecclesiastical Province of Lithuania, directly subject to the Holy See.

The President also conveyed Lithuania's sincere gratitude to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for his attention to Lithuania and for his apostolic blessing to the participants of the World Apostolic Congress on Mercy in Vilnius. He also reiterated his invitation to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV to visit Lithuania.