About: Juozapas Skvireckas

Juozapas Skvireckas (1873–1959) was a Lithuanian archbishop of Kaunas (1926–1959). In 1911–1937 he translated the Bible into the Lithuanian language; it was published in six volumes by the Society of Saint Casimir. During the occupation of the Baltic States by the Nazis, Skvireckas and his assistant, bishop , welcomed the Nazis. Skvireckas would provide chaplains for Lithuanian-manned Nazi auxiliary units. In later years however Skvireckas issued multiple protests to Nazi authorities regarding the conditions of the Catholic church in Lithuania. He also sent reports to Vatican and since 1942 started receiving instructions from papal office. In 1944, Skvireckas, Brizgys and over 200 other Lithuanian clergymen left Kaunas with retreating German forces, and went into exile. He would settle in