Kristina Zamarytė-Sakavičienė, mother of six children and Minister of Justice of Lithuania

When Kristina Zamaryte-Sakaviciene gave birth to her fifth child, the nurse who weighed the newborn asked her how many children she had. “Five”, "Yes," Kristina replied, smiling. The nurse frowned., “Well, I hope he doesn't come back here then,” he said.. However, Kristina returned to give birth to her sixth child. For Zamaryte-Sakaviciene, that moment became a quiet act of defiance, a symbol of joy in embracing family life, in the midst of a modern culture that too often greets large families with, if not surprise, then open skepticism.

Today, this mother of six has taken on one of the most visible legal positions in her country: Deputy Minister of Justice of Lithuania. Her appointment has drawn praise from both civic leaders and the Catholic community for her clear moral compass and commitment to placing family values at the center of public policy.

Faith in public life

Zamaryte-Sakaviciene joined the Ministry of Justice in early October 2025, working under Minister Rita Tamašuniene. Her portfolio is broad: civil, procedural, and administrative law; mediation and forensic policy; and the development of Lithuania's national legal system.

He accepted the offer to serve, he says, with “serene joy”, recognizing it as “a professional milestone and a personal calling”. Although he never sought high office, his lifelong motivation has been “contribute effectively to the common good and the protection of fundamental human rights”.

A lawyer and ethicist by training, she began her career in 2006 as an advisor to the Lithuanian Parliament's Health Affairs Committee and later became an inspector of good clinical practices at the State Medicines Control Agency. She then went on to head the Institute of Biomedical Ethics and Law and was director of the Free Society Institute, an advocacy group that promotes values rooted in Catholic social doctrine.

For Zamaryte-Sakaviciene, law and faith are not opposing forces, but complementary paths to truth. “Justice is not tied to any faith; its content and obligations do not depend on religious beliefs.”he says. “Human rights, in their essence, are nothing more than demands for justice, that a person be given what is due to them according to their human nature.”.

Praise and controversy

His rise to national leadership has not gone unnoticed. Cardinal Sigitas Tamkevicius, a former political prisoner under the Soviet regime, praised his “clear Christian stance on life, family, and sexuality”, and described it as “an inspiring example for secular Catholics and all people of good will that we need not be passive observers of what is happening in Lithuania today, but rather clearly defend eternal values.”.

Archbishop Kestutis Kevalas of Kaunas also defended his appointment, stating that in a democracy, no one should be “humiliated or declared unfit for public service simply because of their moral or religious position”. Discrimination against believers, he warned, weakens the very fabric of democracy.

However, her worldview, particularly her outspoken advocacy for life and family, puts her at odds with a culture increasingly defined by individualism. In public forums, she often challenges assumptions about modern feminism and what it means to be an empowered woman.

“Feminism promised empowerment and liberation for women.”he says, “but it led many to seek happiness in the wrong ways”. The modern emphasis on careerism and status, he argues, has “has subtly belittled motherhood and diminished the sense of true femininity.”.

For Zamaryte-Sakaviciene, this distortion has created an emotional burden on women. “Many women feel guilty if they pause their careers after having a baby and equally guilty if they wait too long to become mothers.”, observe. She believes that restoring respect for motherhood means recognizing its irreplaceable value, nurturing life within the family and in society at large.

A child-centered approach

At the heart of her philosophy lies what she calls a child-centered vision of justice. “I evaluate the decisions made by the State according to the principle that the interests of the child come first.”, he explains, especially in debates on family policy, assisted reproduction, and abortion.

He insists that life begins at conception, that “Children should never be treated as objects of adult desire or convenience.”. With regard to fertilization in vitro, he is concerned about a culture that “expects children to adapt to adults” decisions”. The increasing manipulation of embryos, he says, “is driven by cultural shifts that elevate the convenience, desires, and interests of adults above the right of a conceived child to be born and to live.”.

His position, he insists, is not about religion, but about justice: “Human embryos should not be treated as objects,” he explains. “Governments should value the natural family, not because of religious mandates but out of respect for natural law.”.

Motherhood as a school of life

Omnes spoke with Virginija Krasauskiene, a teacher from Panevežys, who understands this cultural tension firsthand. Dismissed from her job after giving birth to her third daughter, she stated that, in Lithuania, employees like her “are seen as unnecessary and inconvenient”, and that large families are often considered “uneducated and fanatical”. His story highlights the need for greater social acceptance of families with many children.

When asked how being a mother of six shapes her work, she responds without hesitation: “Motherhood is undoubtedly the best school of life.”.

Motherhood, she said, has revealed both her strengths and weaknesses and has taught her “to truly grow in virtue.”. Speaking with quiet confidence, he added: “Mothers don't need to search for the meaning of life; it grows in their arms every day.”.

That, he believes, is a truth that modern culture forgets in its relentless pursuit of satisfaction through professional success or social achievement. “No invention, law, or discovery compares to the wonder of nurturing a new human life, a person with an infinite life of their own.”, he reflects. “After all, isn't it ultimately for the sake of people that all business, science, and politics exist?.

Serving the truth in a secular age

Zamaryte-Sakaviciene is quick to acknowledge the role of her husband, a practicing lawyer, in supporting their large family. “I have a wonderful husband, a super dad.”he says. “We take care of each other and our children together.”. Their shared commitment, he explains, allows him to continue his civic and political work while pursuing his legal career. Proof that harmony between vocation and family is possible when built on mutual respect and shared purpose.

Navigating politics as a woman of faith can be challenging, but Zamaryte-Sakaviciene believes that moral truth does not need to be imposed to be effective. “The truth will defend itself.”he says. “You just have to be its bearer.”.

He offers young Catholics who aspire to public service a simple piece of advice: “Do not be afraid to hold on to your moral convictions, even at the expense of your career. Even if one door closes, new and unexpected paths will open up. Life becomes simpler when you do not hide your beliefs.”.

The roots of conviction

Zamaryte-Sakaviciene credits her parents with instilling in her a love of learning and moral independence. “My father introduced me to the mysteries of science; my mother showed me the treasures of history, art, and literature.”, Remember. From them, he inherited curiosity, confidence, and the courage to think freely. “It is a current of love, meaning, and adventure that flows from generation to generation.”, he says, a legacy he now seeks to pass on to his own children.

As she begins her term at the Department of Justice, she remains convinced that Europe's moral renewal depends on rediscovering human dignity as something discovered, not merely granted by the state. “Building a just society requires constant effort.”, emphasizes, “both the State and its citizens, to ensure that everyone receives what they are entitled to”.

In a political landscape where faith can seem like a disadvantage, Zamaryte-Sakaviciene stands as a reminder that conviction and compassion can coexist, and that a mother's heart can help guide a nation's laws. “The truth sets us free.”, he states directly. “Our task is simply to recognize it and serve it faithfully.”.