Hounded, persecuted and imprisoned by communists for many years, Cardinal Sigitas Tamkevičius is a Lithuanian Jesuit whose life story is intertwined with the struggle for religious freedom under Soviet occupation.

Born on November 7, 1938, in Krikstonys, Lithuania, Tamkevičius grew up during a tumultuous period in his country’s history.

After completing his secondary education in Seirijai in 1955, Tamkevičius entered the seminary of Kaunas to pursue his religious calling. He was ordained priest on April 18, 1962, by Bishop Petras Maželis. In the years that followed, he served as a vicar in various parishes across Lithuania.

In 1968, Tamkevičius secretly joined the Society of Jesus at a time when religious orders were prohibited under Soviet law. His decision marked the beginning of his active resistance against the oppressive regime. In 1972, while serving as a vicar in Simnas, he initiated the clandestine publication of the Chronicle of the Catholic Church of Lithuania. This underground journal documented and exposed the religious discrimination faced by Catholics in Soviet Lithuania.

Tamkevičius’s commitment to defending religious rights intensified in 1978 when he co-founded the Catholic Committee for the Defence of Believers’ Rights. This group played a crucial role in revealing the truth about religious persecution behind the Iron Curtain.

The Soviet authorities, threatened by Tamkevičius’s activities, arrested him in 1983. He was tried on charges of anti-Soviet propaganda and agitation, resulting in a harsh sentence of ten years in prison and exile. During his imprisonment, Tamkevičius spent time in the infamous KGB prison in Vilnius, where he endured intense interrogations.

Following his conviction, Tamkevičius was sent to labor camps in Perm and Mordovia. In 1988, he was exiled to Siberia to complete his sentence. However, the changing political climate under Gorbachev’s perestroika led to his release later that year.

Upon returning to Lithuania, Tamkevičius resumed his religious duties with renewed vigor. In 1989, he was appointed spiritual director of the Kaunas Seminary, and in 1990, he became its rector. His dedication and leadership were recognized by Pope John Paul II, who appointed him as auxiliary bishop of Kaunas on May 8, 1991.

Tamkevičius’s rise in the Church hierarchy continued, and on May 4, 1996, he was appointed metropolitan archbishop of Kaunas by Pope John Paul II. Throughout his tenure, he held various leadership positions within the Lithuanian Episcopal Conference, including serving as its president for multiple terms.

In recognition of his lifelong service and commitment to the Church, Pope Francis elevated Tamkevičius to the rank of Cardinal on October 5, 2019. His appointment came as a surprise to many, including Tamkevičius himself, who viewed it as an acknowledgment of his role as a witness to the faith.

Today, Cardinal Tamkevičius continues to be an active and respected figure in the Lithuanian Catholic Church. He connects with people using social media platforms like Facebook to reach out to his community. His life story serves as a powerful testament to the resilience of faith in the face of oppression and the enduring spirit of those who fought for religious freedom in Lithuania.