Background
Backis, Audrys Juozas Cardinal was born on February 1, 1937 in Kaunas, Lithuania. Son of Stasys Antanas and Galvydaite-Backiene Backis.
Backis, Audrys Juozas Cardinal was born on February 1, 1937 in Kaunas, Lithuania. Son of Stasys Antanas and Galvydaite-Backiene Backis.
Doctor in Canon Law, Pontifical Lateran University, Rome, 1964. Doctor (honorary), University Vilnius, 1997.
Ordained priest Archdiocese of Kaunas, Lithuania, 1961. Member diplomatic service of Holy See, 1964—1973. Official Pontifical Council Public Affairs of the Church, Rome, 1974—1979, undersecretary, 1979—1988.
Ordained bishop, 1988. Apostolic pro-nuncio to The Netherlands, 1988—1991. Archbishop Archdiocese of Vilnius, Lithuania, since 1991.
Elevated to cardinal, 2001. Cardinal-priest Nativita di Nostro Signore Gesu Cristo a Via Gallia, since 2001. President Lithuanian Bishops Conference, 1993—1999.
Member Pontifical Council for Social Communications, since 1993.