Bangkok (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, Apostolic Administrator
Michael Michai Kitbunchu, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus
Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Elevated: 18 December 1965
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Thailand
Square Kilometers: 18,831 (7,273 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.catholic.or.th/
Mailing Address: 51 Catholic Mission, Charoenkrung Road 40, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Telephone: (02)233.87.12
Fax: 237.10.33

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Siam
- Latin Name: Siamensis
- Erected: 1662
- Vicariate
- Country: Thailand
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam {Siam Orientale}
- Latin Name: Siamensis Orientalis
- Name Changed: 10 September 1841
- Vicariate
- Country: Thailand
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok
- Latin Name: Bangkokensis
- Name Changed: 3 December 1924
- Vicariate
- Country: Thailand
- Square Kilometers: 200,000 (77,250 Square Miles)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Louis Laneau, M.E.P. † (4 Jul 1669 Appointed - 16 Mar 1696 Died)
Louis-Armand Champion de Cicé † (19 Jan 1700 Appointed - 1 Apr 1727 Died)
Jean-Jacques Tessier de Quéralay, M.E.P. † (1 Apr 1727 Succeeded - 27 Sep 1736 Died)
Jean François Abdias de Villevieille † (7 Feb 1737 Appointed - 1738 Died)
Jean de Lolière-Puycontat, M.E.P. † (28 Aug 1738 Appointed - 8 Dec 1755 Died)
Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. † (8 Dec 1755 Succeeded - 30 Sep 1776 Appointed, Superior of Karnatic Mission / Pondicherry)
Olivier-Simon Le Bon, M.E.P. † (30 Sep 1776 Succeeded - 27 Oct 1780 Died)
Joseph-Louis Coudé, M.E.P. † (15 Jan 1782 Appointed - 8 Jan 1785 Died)
Arnaud-Antoine Garnault, M.E.P. † (10 Mar 1786 Appointed - 4 Mar 1811 Died)
Esprit-Marie-Joseph Floren, M.E.P. † (4 Mar 1811 Succeeded - 30 Mar 1834 Died)
Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy, M.E.P. † (30 Mar 1834 Succeeded - 10 Sep 1841 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Malacca-Singapore)
Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix, M.E.P. † (10 Sep 1841 Appointed - 18 Jun 1862 Died)
Ferdinand-Aimé-Augustin-Joseph Dupond, M.E.P. † (9 Sep 1864 Appointed - 11 Dec 1872 Died)
Jean-Louis Vey, M.E.P. † (30 Jul 1875 Appointed - 21 Feb 1909 Died)
René-Marie-Joseph Perros, M.E.P. † (17 Sep 1909 Appointed - 12 Jul 1947 Retired)
Louis-August Chorin, M.E.P. † (10 Jul 1947 Appointed - 29 Apr 1965 Died)
Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo † (29 Apr 1965 Succeeded - 18 Dec 1972 Resigned)
Michael Michai Kitbunchu (18 Dec 1972 Appointed - 14 May 2009 Retired)
Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij (14 May 2009 Appointed - 27 Jun 2024 Retired)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Siam
1662	Erected		Vicariate Apostolic of Siam (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam {Siam Orientale}
10 September 1841	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Siam	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam {Siam Orientale}
4 May 1899	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam {Siam Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Laos (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok
3 December 1924	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam {Siam Orientale}	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok
30 June 1930	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok (Bajauri, Surat, and Srithamarat) Diocese of Malacca (Patani and Phuket)	Mission "Sui Iuris" of Rajaburi (erected)
11 May 1944	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok (Trat, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chonburi, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, and parts of Chachoengsao and Nakhon Nayok)	Vicariate Apostolic of Chantaburi (erected)
17 November 1959	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok (Mehongson, Chiengmai, Chiengrai, Lunphun, Lampang, Nan, Phre, and Uttaradit)	Prefecture Apostolic of Chieng-Mai (erected)
Archdiocese of Bangkok
18 December 1965	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok	Archdiocese of Bangkok
9 February 1967	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Bangkok (Tak, Sukkotai, Phitsanulok, Kamphenghet, Pichit, Pechabum, Nakhorn-Sawan, Uthaithani, Chainat, Singbury, Lopbury, and Sarabury)	Diocese of Nakhorn-Sawan (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok

1949 28,783 9,000,000 .3% 55 55 523 42 198 ap1951

Archdiocese of Bangkok

1969 45,550 6,656,577 .7% 52 29 81 562 84 439 29 ap1971

1980 60,000 7,816,000 .8% 46 75 121 495 176 463 39 ap1981

1990 66,963 11,387,000 .6% 87 77 164 408 195 445 45 ap1991

1999 78,825 12,001,721 .7% 102 81 183 430 212 541 47 ap2000

2000 76,391 13,065,565 .6% 113 81 194 393 230 500 49 ap2001

2001 79,015 12,000,000 .7% 119 88 207 381 234 520 51 ap2002

2002 81,646 12,398,000 .7% 121 87 208 392 220 516 51 ap2003

2003 84,160 12,241,377 .7% 120 86 206 408 217 470 51 ap2004

2004 86,493 12,471,646 .7% 123 86 209 413 222 504 51 ap2005

2006 111,514 12,759,000 .9% 128 84 212 526 252 489 51 ap2007

2012 115,945 13,226,721 .9% 133 93 226 513 271 420 54 ap2013

2015 118,654 13,513,698 .9% 135 103 238 498 247 423 55 ap2016

2018 121,039 13,748,261 .9% 148 92 240 504 251 424 55 ap2019

2020 122,094 13,871,903 .9% 140 92 232 526 224 416 57 ap2021

2022 122,839 13,787,346 .9% 148 92 240 511 224 420 59 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok
1949	28,783	9,000,000	.3%	55		55	523	42	198		ap1951
Archdiocese of Bangkok
1969	45,550	6,656,577	.7%	52	29	81	562	84	439	29	ap1971
1980	60,000	7,816,000	.8%	46	75	121	495	176	463	39	ap1981
1990	66,963	11,387,000	.6%	87	77	164	408	195	445	45	ap1991
1999	78,825	12,001,721	.7%	102	81	183	430	212	541	47	ap2000
2000	76,391	13,065,565	.6%	113	81	194	393	230	500	49	ap2001
2001	79,015	12,000,000	.7%	119	88	207	381	234	520	51	ap2002
2002	81,646	12,398,000	.7%	121	87	208	392	220	516	51	ap2003
2003	84,160	12,241,377	.7%	120	86	206	408	217	470	51	ap2004
2004	86,493	12,471,646	.7%	123	86	209	413	222	504	51	ap2005
2006	111,514	12,759,000	.9%	128	84	212	526	252	489	51	ap2007
2012	115,945	13,226,721	.9%	133	93	226	513	271	420	54	ap2013
2015	118,654	13,513,698	.9%	135	103	238	498	247	423	55	ap2016
2018	121,039	13,748,261	.9%	148	92	240	504	251	424	55	ap2019
2020	122,094	13,871,903	.9%	140	92	232	526	224	416	57	ap2021
2022	122,839	13,787,346	.9%	148	92	240	511	224	420	59	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 22 Jan 1755; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Dec 1755 to 30 Sep 1776)
Barthélemy Bruguière, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 5 Feb 1828 to 9 Sep 1831)
Louis-Armand Champion de Cicé † (Vicar Apostolic: 19 Jan 1700 to 1 Apr 1727)
Louis-August Chorin, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jul 1947 to 29 Apr 1965)
Joseph-Louis Coudé, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Jan 1782 to 8 Jan 1785)
Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 5 Apr 1832; Vicar Apostolic: 30 Mar 1834 to 10 Sep 1841)
Ferdinand-Aimé-Augustin-Joseph Dupond, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Sep 1864 to 11 Dec 1872)
Esprit-Marie-Joseph Floren, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 29 Jun 1810; Vicar Apostolic: 4 Mar 1811 to 30 Mar 1834)
Arnaud-Antoine Garnault, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Mar 1786 to 4 Mar 1811)
Louis Laneau, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Jul 1669 to 16 Mar 1696)
Olivier-Simon Le Bon, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 22 Aug 1764; Vicar Apostolic: 30 Sep 1776 to 27 Oct 1780)
Jean de Lolière-Puycontat, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 Aug 1738 to 8 Dec 1755)
Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo † (Priest: 21 Dec 1935; Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 13 Sep 1963; Vicar Apostolic: 29 Apr 1965; Archbishop: 18 Dec 1965 to 18 Dec 1972)
Michael Mongkhol On Prakhongchit †
Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 3 Jun 1838; Vicar Apostolic: 10 Sep 1841 to 18 Jun 1862)
René-Marie-Joseph Perros, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 17 Sep 1909 to 12 Jul 1947)
Michael Praphon Chaicharoen, S.D.B. †
Francis Xavier Sanguon Souvannasri †
Jean-Jacques Tessier de Quéralay, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 17 Sep 1717; Vicar Apostolic: 1 Apr 1727 to 27 Sep 1736)
Jean-Louis Vey, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Jul 1875 to 21 Feb 1909)
Jean François Abdias de Villevieille † (Vicar Apostolic: 7 Feb 1737 to 1738)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Siam
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 122, to Page 123
Vicariate Apostolic of Eastern Siam {Siam Orientale}
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 123
Vicariate Apostolic of Bangkok
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 17, Page 25, and Page 26
Archdiocese of Bangkok
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 58, Page 552, to Page 554

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Archdiocese of Bangkok

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