Cardinal Jānis Pujats is a retired conservative Archbishop of Riga (Latvia) and fearless defender of the Church’s teaching and apostolic tradition who faced communist persecution during Soviet occupation.

Born on November 14, 1930, in Nautrēni parish, Latgale, Latvia, Pujats began his religious education at the Theological Seminary in Riga before it was closed by the Soviet Union in 1951. Despite this setback, Pujats was ordained in a secret ceremony by Archbishop Antonijs Springovičs just two months later.

During his early career, Pujats focused on pastoral work in Riga parishes while also teaching art history and liturgy at the Catholic Theological Seminary. He played a crucial role in implementing the liturgical reforms decreed by the Second Vatican Council and was instrumental in publishing the first missal in Latvian.

Pujats’ career progressed, and from 1979 to 1984, he served as Vicar General in the Metropolitan Curia. However, in 1984, he faced adversity when the KGB declared him a persona non grata, forcing him to return to parish work.

A significant milestone in Pujats’ career came on May 8, 1991, when he was appointed Archbishop of Riga, receiving his episcopal consecration on June 1 of the same year. He also served as the President of the Latvian Bishops’ Conference.

Pujats’ importance in the Catholic Church was further recognized when Pope John Paul II made him a cardinal in pectore on February 21, 1998. This appointment was made public during the consistory of February 21, 2001. As a cardinal, Pujats participated in the 2005 papal conclave that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Known for his linguistic abilities, Pujats speaks Russian, Polish, Lithuanian, German, and Latin, in addition to his native Latvian. He gained attention for being the only member of the Synod of Bishops to address the assembly exclusively in Latin during the 2001 and 2005 meetings.

On June 19, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Pujats’ resignation as Archbishop of Riga. Throughout his career, he has been known for his traditional views on various Church matters and has been involved in publishing declarations reaffirming traditional Church teaching.

In 2019, Cardinal Pujats joined Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, and Kazakh bishops Tomasz Peta, Jan Paul Lenga, and Athanasius Schneider in signing the “Declaration of Truths” reaffirming the Church’s teaching. The declaration was created in response to what the signatories called “almost universal doctrinal confusion and disorientation.” The signatories also criticized some of Pope Francis’ teachings, including his Document on Human Fraternity.

He has been a vocal critic of homosexuality, referring to it as “absolute depravity in sexual behavior” and an “unnatural form of prostitution.”¹He also called for protests against gay pride marches and urged the Latvian government to forbid such demonstrations. He also said homosexuality “is not a sexual orientation; it is a sexual perversion” and emphasized the need to combat moral decay in society. In 2015, he accused the European Union of launching “an internal crusade against the Christian faith.”

In comments made in the 2000s, Pujats said: “We are not hurrying to turn around the altars. When we build smaller churches, even today, I do not have the altar detached from the wall. I do not look upon it as an offense to anyone that the priest stands facing the altar to celebrate Mass.”

On the Sacrament of Penance: “In many [nations] few people go to confess their sins, but they all go to Communion. I look on this as the biggest mistake that [Vatican II] ‘reformers’ have made. When they lifted the people onto their feet it was apparent to me that it would take two generations to get them back on their knees.”

Cardinal Pujats speaks Russian, Polish, Lithuanian, German, and Latin, in addition to his native Latvian.