On March 25, 1798, it lost territory to establish the
Diocese of Wigry. On July 3, 1848, it gained territory from the persisting then
Diocese of Vilnius, now Lithuania's other Metropolitan see. On June 9, 1920, it lost territory to the existing
Diocese of Riga (in
Latvia), while in the next year it gained territory from the persisting
Diocese of Sejny (in
Poland).
It enjoyed a Papal Visit from
Pope John Paul II in September 1993. On May 28, 1997, parts of the archdiocese have been ceded to the newly founded suffragan
Diocese of Šiauliai.
Stanislovas Kiška (
Stanisław Kiszka) (1618.11.26 – death 1626.02.13)
Abraomas Voina (
Abraham Woyna) (1626.07.20 – 1631.03.24), previously Titular Bishop of
Modon (1611.05.25 – 1626.07.20) & Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1611.05.25 – 1626.07.20); later Bishop of Vilnius (1631.03.24 – death 1649.04.14)
Merkelis Elijaševičius Geišas (Melchior Elijaszewicz Geisz) (1631.06.11 – death 1633.01.28)
Jurgis Tiškevičius (
Jerzy Tyszkiewicz) (1633.12.19 – 1649.12.09), previously Titular Bishop of
Modon (1627.05.17 – 1633.12.19) & Auxiliary Bishop of
Vilnius (1627.05.17 – 1633.12.19); later Bishop of Vilnius (1649.12.09 – death 1656.01.17)
Petras Parčevskis (
Piotr Parczewski) (1649.12.09 – death 1658.12.06), previously Bishop of
Smolensk (Lithuania) (1636.09.01 – 1649.12.09)
Aleksandras Kazimieras Sapiega (
Aleksander Kazimierz Sapieha) (1660.01.12 – 1667.07.18), previously Titular Bishop of
Modon (1655.08.02 – 1660.01.12) & Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1655.08.02 – 1660.01.12); later Bishop of Vilnius (1667.07.18 – death 1671.05.22)
Kazimieras Pacas (
Kazimierz Pac) (1667.10.03 – death 1695), previously Bishop of
Smolensk (Lithuania) (1664.01.14 – 1667.10.03)
Jonas Jeronimas Krišpinas-Kiršenšteinas (Jan Hieronim Kryszpin-Kirszensztein) (1695.09.19 – death 1708.07.14), previously Titular Bishop of
Martiria (1696.01.02 – 1706.01.25) & Auxiliary Bishop of
Vilnius (1696.01.02 – 1710.07.21)
Jonas Mikalojus Zgierskis (Jan Mikołaj Zgierski) (1710.07.21 – death 1713.12.06), previously Titular Bishop of
Martiria (1696.01.02 – 1706.01.25) & Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius (Lithuania) (1696.01.02 – 1710.07.21) and next Bishop of
Smolensk (Russia) (1706.01.25 – 1710.07.21)
Povilas Pranciškus Sapiega (Paweł Franciszek Sapieha),
Cistercians (O. Cist.) (1715.01.21 – death 1715.10.01)
Aleksandras Mikalojus Gorainis (Aleksander Mikołaj Horain) (1716.12.07 – death 1735.12.07), previously Titular
Bishop of Tiberias (1704.09.15 – 1711.12.23) & Auxiliary Bishop of Vilnius (1704.09.15 – 1711.12.23), Bishop of
Smolensk (Russia) (1711.12.23 – 1716.12.07)
Juozapas Mykolas Karpis (Józef Michał Karp) (1736.11.19 – death 1739.12.10)
Antanas Tiškevičius (Antoni Dominik Tyszkiewicz) (1740.09.16 – death 1762.01.31), previously Titular Bishop of
Mennith (1739.07.20 – 1740.09.16) & Auxiliary Bishop of
Kijów–Czernihów (Poland) (1739.07.20 – 1740.09.16)
Dominykas Lopacinskis (Jan Dominik Łopaciński) (1762.04.19 – death 1778.01.11)
Bishop Jan Stefan Giedroyć (1778.03.30 – retired 1802.05.13), previously Titular Bishop of
Verinopolis (1763.08.22 – 1765.04.22) & Auxiliary Bishop of
Vilnius (1763.08.22 – 1765.04.22), Bishop of
Inflanty (Latvia) (1765.04.22 – 1778.03.30)
Juozapas Arnulfas Giedraitis (Józef Arnulf Giedroyć) (1802.05.13 – death 1838.07.17), succeeding as former
Coadjutor Bishop of Samogitia ([1790.12.04] 1791.04.11 – 1802.05.13 & Titular Bishop of Orthosia (1791.04.11 – 1802.05.13)
Apostolic Administrator Simonas Mikalojus Giedraitis (Szymon Michal Józef Arnold Giedroyć) (1838.07.17 – 1844.08.07), former Titular Bishop of
Adramyttium (1804.08.20 – 1838.07.17), Auxiliary Bishop of Samogitia (1804.08.20 – 1829.12) and
Coadjutor Bishop of Samogitia (1829.12 – 1838.07.17, not formally succeeding)
Jonas Krizostomas Gintila (1844.08.07 – 1849.09.28 not possessed)
Motiejus Valančius (Maciej Kazimierz Wołonczewski) (1849.09.28 – death 1875.05.29)
Apostolic Administrator Aleksandras Kazimieras Beresnevičius (Aleksander Kazimierz Bereśniewicz) (1875.05.30 – 1883.03.15), Titular Bishop of
Maximianopolis (1858.09.27 – 1883.03.15), former Auxiliary Bishop of Samogitia (1858.09.27 – 1875.05.30); later Bishop of
Kujawy–Kalisz (Poland) (1883.03.15 – 1902.06.04)
Mečislovas Leonardas Paliulionis (Mieczysław Leonard Pallulon) (1883.03.15 – death 1908.05.02)
Gaspar Felicjan Cyrtowt (1910.04.07 – death 1913.09.20), previously Titular Bishop of
Castoria (1897.07.21 – 1910.04.07) & Auxiliary Bishop of Samogitia (1897.07.21 – 1910.04.07)
Pranciškus Karevičius,
Marian Fathers (M.I.C.) (1914.02.27 – 1926.03.23), emeritate as Titular Archbishop of
Scythopolis (1926.03.23 – 1945.05.30)
Metropolitan Archbishops of Kaunas
ArchbishopJuozapas Skvireckas (1926.04.05 – death 1959.12.03), previously Titular Bishop of
Ceramus & Auxiliary Bishop of Kaunas (1919.03.10 – 1926.04.05)
Archbishop
Sigitas Tamkevičius,
Society of Jesus (S.J.) (1996.05.04 – retired 2015.06.11), also President of Episcopal Conference of Lithuania (1999.11.03 – 2002.09.20), vice-president of Episcopal Conference of Lithuania (2002.09.20 – 2005.09.20), President of Episcopal Conference of Lithuania (2005.09.20 – 2014.10.28); previously Titular Bishop of
Turuda & Auxiliary Bishop of Kaunas (1991.05.08 – 1996.05.04); as emeritus, became
Cardinal-Priest of
Sant'Angela Merici 10.05.2019
Archbishop
Lionginas Virbalas, S.J. (2015 – retired 2019.03.01), also vice-president of Episcopal Conference of Lithuania (2014.10.28 – 2015.06.11); previously Bishop of
Panevėžys (2013.06.06 – 2015.06.11)