(LITHUANIA)
LRT [Vilnius, Lithuania]
August 13, 2026
By BNS
The Apostolic Nunciature in Lithuania said Thursday it was deeply concerned about allegations of sexual offenses against children involving two Catholic priests, Lithuanian news portal 15min.lt reported.
“The Holy See has been informed of this painful situation, continues to monitor it with great concern and regularly receives updates on any developments,” the nunciature said in a statement to 15min.lt. “The Holy See firmly reaffirms its zero-tolerance policy toward any form of abuse.”
The diplomatic mission expressed sympathy for the alleged victims and their families. It said criminal proceedings are under the jurisdiction of Lithuanian state authorities, while the corresponding canonical investigation is the responsibility of the Archdiocese of Vilnius.
One of the priests is accused of sexual offenses against 11 minors. According to law enforcement data, authorities recorded 34 alleged criminal episodes over a 23-year period, from 2002 through 2025.
The second priest is accused of possessing child pornography. Authorities have identified no victims in that case.
The defendants have been identified as Tadas Švedavičius and Ryšardas Peciunas, respectively.
Further reading
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