Concordat of 1922
Encyclopedia
Concordat
signed between the Latvian government and the Vatican on 30 May 1922 by Latvian foreign minister
Zigfrīds Meierovics
and Cardinal Secretary of State
Pietro Gasparri
. Ratifications were exchanged at the Vatican on 3 November 1922 by Latvian deputy foreign minister Hermanis Albats and Cardinal Gasparri, and the agreement became effective on the same day. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on 16 June 1923.
(reestablished in 1918) to an Archdiocese and stipulated all the Bishops should be of Latvian nationality. Article 3 stipulated that the Archdiocese of Riga shall be under Vatican jurisdiction on all church matters. Article 4 gave the Latvian government the right to veto every candidate for Bishop in its territory. Article 5 made it compulsory for every Bishop in Latvia to swear allegiance to Latvian law. Article 6 stipulated the Archdiocese of Riga shall be run under Canon Law. In article 7 the Latvian government undertook to provide the proper buildings for the Archbishop and the operation of the Archdiocese of Riga. Article 8 gave the Archbishop of Riga the right to appoint the Priests under his jurisdiction. Article 9 exempted members of the clergy from military service as well as jury service. Article 10 allowed the Catholic Church in Latvia to establish its own system of schools. Article 11 provided for the operation of a priestly seminary in the Latvian language. Article 12 limited the right to appoint non-Latvian nationals as members of the clergy. Article 13 regulated the activities of Catholic associations in Latvia. Article 14 made church property inviolable. Article 15 made churches and cemeteries inviolable. Article 16 regulated the taxation of church property. Article 17 gave the Latvian authorities the freedom to prosecute priests accused of crimes. Article 18 gave the Archdiocese of Riga the right to be informed of any criminal proceedings initiated against a priest accused of crimes. Article 19 permitted priests convicted of crimes to serve their sentence in monasteries, with the consent of the Archbishop. Article 20 stipulated the agreement shall remain in force for three years, unless extended later. Articles 21-22 provided for ratification by Vatican and Latvian authorities.
The concordat was modified by a supplementary protocol signed on 25 January 1938.
Concordat
A concordat is an agreement between the Holy See of the Catholic Church and a sovereign state on religious matters. Legally, they are international treaties. They often includes both recognition and privileges for the Catholic Church in a particular country...
signed between the Latvian government and the Vatican on 30 May 1922 by Latvian foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
Zigfrīds Meierovics
Zigfrids Anna Meierovics
Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics was a Latvian politician and diplomat who served as the first Foreign Minister of Latvia from its independence until 1924 and again from December of the same year until his death. He also served two terms as the Prime Minister of Latvia from June, 1921 to January, 1923 and...
and Cardinal Secretary of State
Cardinal Secretary of State
The Cardinal Secretary of State—officially Secretary of State of His Holiness The Pope—presides over the Holy See, usually known as the "Vatican", Secretariat of State, which is the oldest and most important dicastery of the Roman Curia...
Pietro Gasparri
Pietro Gasparri
Pietro Gasparri was a Roman Catholic archbishop, diplomat and politician in the Roman Curia and signatory of the Lateran Pacts.- Biography :...
. Ratifications were exchanged at the Vatican on 3 November 1922 by Latvian deputy foreign minister Hermanis Albats and Cardinal Gasparri, and the agreement became effective on the same day. It was registered in League of Nations Treaty Series on 16 June 1923.
Terms of the agreement
Article 1 granted the Catholic Church in Latvia freedom to operate, as well as the status of corporate entity. Article 2 required the Catholic Church to elevate its Diocese for RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
(reestablished in 1918) to an Archdiocese and stipulated all the Bishops should be of Latvian nationality. Article 3 stipulated that the Archdiocese of Riga shall be under Vatican jurisdiction on all church matters. Article 4 gave the Latvian government the right to veto every candidate for Bishop in its territory. Article 5 made it compulsory for every Bishop in Latvia to swear allegiance to Latvian law. Article 6 stipulated the Archdiocese of Riga shall be run under Canon Law. In article 7 the Latvian government undertook to provide the proper buildings for the Archbishop and the operation of the Archdiocese of Riga. Article 8 gave the Archbishop of Riga the right to appoint the Priests under his jurisdiction. Article 9 exempted members of the clergy from military service as well as jury service. Article 10 allowed the Catholic Church in Latvia to establish its own system of schools. Article 11 provided for the operation of a priestly seminary in the Latvian language. Article 12 limited the right to appoint non-Latvian nationals as members of the clergy. Article 13 regulated the activities of Catholic associations in Latvia. Article 14 made church property inviolable. Article 15 made churches and cemeteries inviolable. Article 16 regulated the taxation of church property. Article 17 gave the Latvian authorities the freedom to prosecute priests accused of crimes. Article 18 gave the Archdiocese of Riga the right to be informed of any criminal proceedings initiated against a priest accused of crimes. Article 19 permitted priests convicted of crimes to serve their sentence in monasteries, with the consent of the Archbishop. Article 20 stipulated the agreement shall remain in force for three years, unless extended later. Articles 21-22 provided for ratification by Vatican and Latvian authorities.
The concordat was modified by a supplementary protocol signed on 25 January 1938.