Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangkok, Thailand

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Bangkok / อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ (ไทย) / 曼谷 (正體中文) / Bangkoken(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nakhon Sawan, Ratchaburi, Surat Thani

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1662: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Siam / 暹羅 (正體中文) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Cochin and Apostolic Vicariate of Tonking)
1841.09.10: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Siam / Siam Orientale (Italiano) / 暹羅東境 (正體中文) (lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Western Siam)
1899.05.04: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Laos
1924.12.03: Renamed as Apostolic Vicariate of Bangkok / อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ (ไทย) / 曼谷 (正體中文) / Bangkoken(sis) (Latin)
1930.06.30: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Rajaburi
1944.05.11: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Chantaburi
1959.11.17: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Prefecture of Chieng-Mai
1965.12.18: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Bangkok / อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ (ไทย) / 曼谷 (正體中文) / Bangkoken(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan sees Bangnokhuek, Chantaburi and Chieng-Mai)
1967.02.09: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Nakhorn-Sawan and gained suffragan see Nakhorn-Sawan
1969.06.26: Gained suffragan see Surat Thani
2018.04.25: Gained suffragan see Chiang Rai

Papal Visits

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop:

vacant

Apostolic Administrator (2024.06.27 – ...):

Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana (68)

Bishop of Chiang Mai (Thailand)

General Secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Bangkok (Roman Rite)

Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana (68)
(Apostolic Administrator 2024.06.27 – ...)

Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij (75)
(2009.05.14 – 2024.06.27)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Addolorata
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Bangkok (Thailand)

Verbum crucis Dei virtus est

Born:	1949.06.27 (Bam Rak, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1976.07.11
Consecrated Bishop:	2007.06.02
Created Cardinal:	2015.02.14

Priest of Bangkok (Thailand) (1976.07.11 – 2007.03.07)

Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (2007.03.07 – 2009.05.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand) (2009.05.14 – 2024.06.27)

Vice-President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2009.10 – 2015)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2015 – 2021.10.01)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Addolorata (2015.02.14 [2015.10.11] – ...)

Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu (95)
(1972.12.18 – 2009.05.14)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna
Protopriest of College of Cardinals
Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Bangkok (Thailand)

Per crucem ad lucem

Born:	1929.01.25 (Samphran, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1959.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1973.06.03
Created Cardinal:	1983.02.02

Priest of Bangkok (Thailand) (1959.12.20 – 1972.12.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand) (1972.12.18 – 2009.05.14)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1979 – 1982)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna (1983.02.02 – ...)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1985 – 1991)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1994 – 1997)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2000 – 2006)

Protopriest of College of Cardinals (2016.12.14 – ...)

Archbishop Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo
(1965.12.18 – 1972.12.18)

Born:	1908.05.29 (Lamsai, Thailand)
Ordained Priest:	1935.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1963.10.20
Died:	1998.10.02 († 90)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Bangkok (Thailand) (1963.09.13 – 1965.04.29)

Titular Bishop of Obba (1963.09.13 – 1965.12.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Bangkok (Thailand) (1965.04.29 – 1965.12.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand) (1965.12.18 – 1972.12.18)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1970 – 1973)

Vicars Apostolic of Bangkok (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo (later Archbishop)
(1965.04.29 – 1965.12.18)

(see above)

Bishop Louis-August Chorin, M.E.P.
(1947.07.10 – 1965.04.29)

Born:	1888.07.17 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1912.09.29
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.10.05
Died:	1965.04.29 († 76)

Titular Bishop of Polystylus (1947.07.10 – 1965.04.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Bangkok (Thailand) (1947.07.10 – 1965.04.29)

Bishop René-Marie-Joseph Perros, M.E.P.
(1924.12.03 – 1947.07.10)

Born:	1870.03.12 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1893.10.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1910.01.30
Died:	1952.11.27 († 82)

Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Siam (Thailand) (1909.09.17 – 1924.12.03)

Titular Bishop of Zoara (1909.09.17 – 1952.11.27)

Vicar Apostolic of Bangkok (Thailand) (1924.12.03 – 1947.07.10)

Vicars Apostolic of Eastern Siam (Roman Rite)

Bishop René-Marie-Joseph Perros, M.E.P.
(1909.09.17 – 1924.12.03)

(see above)

Bishop Jean-Louis Vey, M.E.P.
(1875.07.30 – 1909.02.21)

Born:	1840.01.06 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1865.06.10
Consecrated Bishop:	1875.12.05
Died:	1909.02.21 († 69)

Titular Bishop of Gerasa (1875.07.30 – 1909.02.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Siam (Thailand) (1875.07.30 – 1909.02.21)

Bishop Ferdinand-Aimé-Augustin-Joseph Dupond, M.E.P.
(1864.09.09 – 1872.12.11)

Born:	1809.11.17 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1833.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1865.02.22
Died:	1872.12.11 († 63)

Titular Bishop of Azotus (1864.09.09 – 1872.12.11)

Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Siam (Thailand) (1864.09.09 – 1872.12.11)

Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix, M.E.P.
(1841.09.10 – 1862.06.18)

Born:	1805.10.24 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1828.05.31
Consecrated Bishop:	1838.06.03
Died:	1862.06.18 († 56)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1838.06.03 – 1841.09.10)

Titular Bishop of Mallus (1838.06.03 – 1862.06.18)

Vicar Apostolic of Eastern Siam (Thailand) (1841.09.10 – 1862.06.18)

Vicars Apostolic of Siam (Roman Rite)

Bishop Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy, M.E.P.
(1834.03.30 – 1841.09.10)

Born:	1792.01.14 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1833.11.30
Died:	1857.05.01 († 65)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1832.04.05 – 1834.03.30)

Titular Bishop of Bitha (1832.04.05 – 1857.05.01)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1834.03.30 – 1841.09.10)

Vicar Apostolic of Western Siam (Malaysia) (1841.09.10 – 1844.09.07)

Bishop Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens, M.E.P.
(1811.03.04 – 1834.03.30)

Born:	1762.06.04 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1786
Consecrated Bishop:	1812.04.12
Died:	1834.03.30 († 71)

Titular Bishop of Sozopolis (1810.06.29 – 1834.03.30)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1810.10 – 1811.03.04)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1811.03.04 – 1834.03.30)

Bishop Arnaud-Antoine Garnault, M.E.P.
(1786.03.10 – 1811.03.04)

Born:	1745 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1787.04.15
Died:	1811.03.04 († 65)

Titular Bishop of Metellopolis (1786.03.10 – 1811.03.04)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1786.03.10 – 1811.03.04)

Bishop Joseph-Louis Coudé, M.E.P.
(1782.01.15 – 1785.01.08)

Born:	1750.10.04 (France)
Ordained Priest:	1773.12.17
Died:	1785.01.08 († 34)

Titular Bishop of Resaina (1782.01.15 – 1785.01.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1782.01.15 – 1785.01.08)

Bishop Olivier-Simon Le Bon, M.E.P.
(1776.09.30 – 1780.10.27)

Born:	1710.03.17 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1766.12.28
Died:	1780.10.27 († 70)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1764.08.22 – 1776.09.30)

Titular Bishop of Metellopolis (1764.08.22 – 1780.10.27)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1776.09.30 – 1780.10.27)

Bishop Pierre Brigot, M.E.P.
(1755.12.08 – 1776.09.30)

Born:	1713.09.01 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1757.08.24
Died:	1791.11.08 († 78)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1755.01.22 – 1755.12.08)

Titular Bishop of Tabraca (1755.01.22 – 1791.11.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1755.12.08 – 1776.09.30)

Ecclesiastical Superior of Coromandel Coast (India) (1776.09.30 – 1791.11.08)

Bishop Jean de Lolière-Puycontat, M.E.P.
(1738.08.28 – 1755.12.08)

Born:	1685.09.11 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1740.03.20
Died:	1755.12.08 († 70)

Titular Bishop of Iuliopolis (1738.08.28 – 1755.12.08)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1738.08.28 – 1755.12.08)

Bishop Jean-Jacques Tessier de Quéralay
(1727.04.01 – 1736.09.27)

Born:	1668 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1723.05.01
Died:	1736.09.27 († 67)

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1717.09.17 – 1727.04.01)

Titular Bishop of Rosalia (1717.09.17 – 1736.09.27)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1727.04.01 – 1736.09.27)

Bishop Louis Champion de Cicé, M.E.P.
(1700.01.19 – 1727.04.01)

Born:	1648.09.24 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1701.01.02
Died:	1727.04.01 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Sabulon (1700.01.19 – 1727.04.01)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1700.01.19 – 1727.04.01)

Bishop Louis Laneau, M.E.P.
(1669.07.04 – 1696.03.16)

Born:	1637.05.31 (France)
Consecrated Bishop:	1674.03.25
Died:	1696.03.16 († 58)

Titular Bishop of Metellopolis (1669.07.04 – 1696.03.16)

Vicar Apostolic of Siam (Thailand) (1669.07.04 – 1696.03.16)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo (later Archbishop) (1963.09.13 – 1965.04.29)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix, M.E.P. (1838.06.03 – 1841.09.10)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy, M.E.P. (1832.04.05 – 1834.03.30)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Barthélemy Bruguière (소 바르톨로메오), M.E.P. (1828.02.05 – 1831.09.09)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop-elect Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens, M.E.P. (1810.10 – 1811.03.04)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Olivier-Simon Le Bon, M.E.P. (1764.08.22 – 1776.09.30)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop-elect Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. (1755.01.22 – 1755.12.08)
Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: Bishop Jean-Jacques Tessier de Quéralay (1717.09.17 – 1727.04.01)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Bangkok, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Bangkok

Ratchaburi (←), Nakhon Sawan (↑), Chanthaburi (↘)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 18,831 km²

Population: 123,673 Catholics (0.9% of 13,774,709 total)

Pastoral Centres: 59 parishes

Personnel: 247 priests (153 diocesan, 94 religious), 658 religious (226 brothers, 432 sisters), 21 seminarians