2 Euro BU

The Concordat was concluded during the interwar period, after Litauen regained its state independence in 1918. The new state had to establish a legal framework for its relations with the churches and religious communities. For Litauen, the Catholic Church held a particularly important position: a large part of the population was Catholic, and church institutions shaped the education system, association life and social welfare.

A concordat is a treaty under international law between a state and the Holy See. The Lithuanian agreement established the legal conditions for the activities of the Catholic Church in the country. Among other things, it regulated its institutional position, the organization of church administration, and matters relating to worship and church activities. At the same time, it created a binding framework for the conduct of state authorities towards the Church. The agreement was therefore not only a religious document, but also one of relevance to state and social policy.

The treaty was concluded in 1927 in Rom. It belongs to a period in which Litauen consolidated its state institutions and expanded its international standing. Relations with the Holy See were also relevant to the young republic because the Vatican acted as an independent international actor and supported Litauen’s diplomatic integration. The Concordat thus reflected the political circumstances and denominational character of Litauen in the 1920s.

Its practical validity was interrupted by the Soviet occupation of Litauen and its subsequent incorporation into the Soviet Union. During this period, the Catholic Church was subjected to state restrictions and repression. With the restoration of Lithuanian independence, relations with the Holy See could be continued on a new treaty basis.

The coin therefore commemorates not only the text of the treaty, but also an early regulation of the relationship between the restored Lithuanian state and the Catholic Church. The centenary provides an opportunity to recall the consolidation of the state of Litauen and the eventful history of these relations in the 20th century.