Lionginas Virbalas
| His Excellency Lionginas Virbalas, S.J. |
|
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas Vice-President of the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference |
|
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 11 June 2015 |
| Predecessor | Sigitas Tamkevičius, S.J. |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Other posts | Rector of the Collegium Russicum (2010–2013) Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Panevėžys (2013–2015) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 30 May 1991 (Priest) |
| Consecration | 10 August 2013 (Bishop) by Cardinal Audrys Bačkis |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Lionginas Virbalas |
| Born | 6 July 1961 Biržai, Lithuanian SSR (present day Lithuania) |
Archbishop Lionginas Virbalas, S.J. (born 6 July 1961 in Biržai, Lithuanian SSR, present day Lithuania) is a Lithuanian Roman Catholic prelate as the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas since 11 June 2015. Previously he served as the Diocesan Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Panevėžys from 6 June 2013 until 11 June 2015.
Life
Archbishop Virbalas was born in the Roman Catholic family in the Diocese of Panevėžys. After graduation of the school education in his native town, he continued his study at the Vilnius Civil Engineering Institute (1979–1981), but interrupted it, because of a compulsory service in the Soviet Army (1981–1983). In 1983 he joined the Inter-Diocesan Theological Seminary in Kaunas, but was forced to leave it, because of forbidding of the Soviet authorities. During this time he clandestinely studied theology and in 1986 successfully joined the Theological Seminary and after, entered to the Society of Jesus.[1] He was ordained as priest on May 30, 1991, after completed his philosophical and theological study and made a solemn profession on September 27, 2003.[2]
In 1992 Fr. Virbalas continued his studies in Italy and made a licentiate degree at the Pontifical Gregorian University (1994). After this, he performed such ministries: as professor in the Theological Seminary and University, Rector of the Church of St. Francis Xavier, Kaunas (1995–1997), Rector of the Church of St. Casimir, Vilnius (1998–2005, 2008–2010) in his native Lithuania, and Rector of the Pontifical Collegium Russicum in Rome (2010–2013).[1]
On June 6, 2013, he was appointed by the Pope Francis as the Diocesan Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Panevėžys and on August 30, 2013, he was consecrated as bishop by Cardinal Audrys Bačkis and other prelates of the Roman Catholic Church.[2] On June 11, 2015, he was appointed as Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas. Also from 28 October 2014 he is serving as a Vice-President of the Episcopal Conference of Lithuania.[1]
References
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Rector of the Pontifical Collegium Russicum 2010–2013 |
Succeeded by Anto Lozjuk |
| Preceded by | Bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Panevėžys 2013–2015 |
Succeeded by Linas Vodopjanovas |
| Preceded by | Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Kaunas 2015–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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