On 1 September 2022, at the National Library of Latvia, a ceremony will be held for the unveiling of a postage stamp issued jointly by Latvijas Pasts and Poste Vaticane (Vatican Post Office) to mark the centenary of the Concordat between the Republic of Latvia and the Holy See. The event will be attended by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Andris Pelšs; the Chargé d’Affaires a.i. at the Apostolic Nunciature to Latvia, Da Woon CHEONG; the metropolitan Archbishop of Riga, Zbigņevs Stankevičs; the Chairman of the Board of Latvijas Pasts, Mārcis Vilcāns, and members of the clergy.
The Concordat with Latvia was drawn up during the pontificate of Benedict XV, and it became the first intergovernmental accord ratified by Pope Pius XI. The Concordat between the Republic of Latvia and the Holy See was concluded in the Vatican on 30 May 1922, and it was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics, and the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Pietro Gasparri. The Concordat, having been ratified by the Constitutional Assembly of Latvia on 19 July 1922, came into effect following the exchange of the documents of ratification in Rome on 3 November 1922. This was one of the first international treaties signed by an independent Latvia, setting an example for other concordats not only in Europe but also in other continents.
On 10 June 1921, the Republic of Latvia and the Holy See established diplomatic relations. To mark the centenary of the occasion, Pope Francis received the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, in a private audience on 10 May 2021. In turn, the Latvian Foreign Minister, Edgars Rinkēvičs, paid a visit to the Holy See on 14 March 2022.
The Holy See has never recognised Latvia’s incorporation into the Soviet Union and persistently supported the Latvian people in their aspirations to regain independence.
For the attention of the media
Time and venue: At 16.00 on 1 September 2022, in the Orangerie of the National Library of Latvia (1st floor by the main entrance). Photo and video opportunity.
Members of the media are requested to register their participation not later than at 10.00 on 1 September by contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at email: media@mfa.gov.lv
Please plan your arrival not later than 30 minutes before the event.