Concordat of 1922

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 Riga 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.