14-11-2024

The Year of the Lozoraitis family celebrated in Rome

On 12 November, an event on the history of Lithuanian diplomacy abroad was held at the Nilde Iotti Library of the Italian Parliament in Rome to commemorate the Year of the Lozoraitis family . The event brought together a multicultural audience of diplomats, historians, cultural representatives and academics, drawing attention to important moments in the Lithuanian diplomacy and the special relationship between Lithuania and Italy in the promotion and dissemination of this historical heritage.

The event was organised by the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania to the Republic of Italy in cooperation with the National Museum of Lithuania, in particular, with the House of Signatories, which presented exceptional exhibits donated by the Lozoraitis family to the museum and screened an excerpt of the film “Lithuania of the Lozoraitis family: when the personal becomes political”, a memoir on the Lozoraitis family , created by Donatas Puslys and Augustinas Bėkšta, for the exhibition “Lithuania of the Lozoraitis family: when the personal becomes political”.

The event was opened by a speech of Giorgio Mulé, the Vice President of the Italian Parliament, in which the politician paid tribute to the decision of the Lithuanian Seimas to declare the year 2024 the Year of the Lozoraitis family, stressing the importance of preserving the memory of the family’s contribution to the history of diplomacy in Lithuania. The Vice President also said that this fostering of the historical memory linking Lithuania and Italy would become the basis for even stronger cultural and political ties between our countries. He has noted that it also contributes to the strengthening of European identity and common democratic values.

Dalia Kreivienė, the Lithuanian Ambassador to Italy, has stressed that the story of the Lozoraitis family reminds us that statehood is not only a legal fact, but also an ideal to be defended every day. The Ambassador has noted that the year dedicated to the Lozoraitis family has strengthened the ties between Lithuania and Italy, based on the shared values of freedom and democracy: “The cooperation between Lithuania and Italy in the context of this event has reaffirmed the cultural proximity of our peoples and the common aspiration to preserve and share the historical memory.” The Ambassador has also called on the participants to be proud to be a part of the community that believes in the dignity and freedom of every nation.

Laura Gabrielaitytė-Kazulėnienė, the Lithuanian Cultural Attaché, has stressed the importance of the cooperation with the National Museum of Lithuania: “The contribution of the National Museum of Lithuania has helped us to broaden the concept of the exhibition and to give the event a wider context. We believe that this cooperation with the Italian archives will provide new opportunities for cultural exchange between our countries and will also make the history of Lithuania more interesting to the Italian audience.”

“The aspiration for a free and independent Lithuania was the fundamental axis of the activities of the Lozoraitis family. This year, the exhibition “Lithuania of the Lozoraitis family: when the personal becomes political”, which opened at the division of the Lithuanian National Museum, the House of Signatories, invites visitors to see how, in times of critical and difficult times for the state, one’s activities may determine the fate of a nation. The Lozoraitis family provides inspiration for building their country. The life of this family is an example of unwavering optimism that Lithuania will be free, and of the consistent pursuit of this freedom, which is binding on us and on future generations. The opportunity to present the items donated to the Museum by the diplomatic family and the film “Lithuania of the Lozoraitis family” in Italy gives us the opportunity to give meaning to their memory at the international level, and we are planning to go to New York and Washington later this year with the message about the Lozoraitis family,” said Dr. Rūta Kačkutė, the Director General of the Lithuanian National Museum.

The event also featured a discussion moderated by Italian journalist Giorgio Rutelli between political scientist Prof. Federigo Argentieri, professor at John Cabot University, Daina Lozoraitis, daughter of Kazis Lozoraitis, and Marguerite de Merode, the curator of the exhibition "Lithuania of the Lozoraitis family: when the personal becomes political" at the National Museum of Lithuania.

Information and photo by Laura Gabrielaitytė-Kazulėnienė