Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun |
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 The cardinal on 28 June 2017. |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
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| See | Vientiane |
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| Appointed | 16 December 2017 |
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| Predecessor | Jean Khamsé Vithavong |
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| Other post(s) | Cardinal-Priest of San Silvestro in Capite (2017–present) |
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| Ordination | 5 November 1972 |
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| Consecration | 22 April 2001
by Jean Khamsé Vitahavong |
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| Created cardinal | 28 June 2017
by Pope Francis |
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| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
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| Born | Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun
(1944-04-08) 8 April 1944 (age 79)
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| Previous post(s) | - Apostolic Vicar of Paksé (2000–17)
- Titular Bishop of Aquae Novae in Proconsulari (2000–17)
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| Motto | Totus tuus |
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| Coat of arms |  |
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Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.V.D. (born 8 April 1944) is a Laotian prelate of the Catholic Church. A bishop since 2001, he was made a cardinal on 28 June 2017 and has served as the Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane since 16 December 2017. He is also the first cardinal from Laos.[1]
Biography
He speaks Khmu, Laotian, French, and English.[2] He is sometimes referred to as Bishop or Cardinal Ling.[1][3]
He is an ethnic Khmu.[1] He was baptized a Catholic in 1952 after missionaries converted his mother.[3] In the 1960s he studied philosophy and theology at the Voluntas Dei seminary in the Diocese of Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. He was ordained a priest in a hurried ceremony in a refugee camp[3] on 5 November 1972 for the Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane, Laos. He spent the years 1984 to 1987 in prison.[3]
On 30 October 2000 Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Vicar of Paksé and titular bishop of Aquae Novae in Proconsulari. He was consecrated a bishop on 22 April 2001 by Bishop Jean Khamsé Vithavong, Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane.
He developed a system of seminary education that requires a candidate for the priesthood, after three years of study, to spend one to three years in pastoral work. He explained that they are "catechists, carrying medicines, aid, prayers for the people of the mountain. They integrate with the villagers, live as the villagers do in everything."[1]
He is a member of Institut Voluntas Dei, founded in 1958 at Trois-Rivières, Quebec. He took his first name Louis-Marie from its founder, Fr. Louis-Marie Parent [fr].
On 21 May 2017, Pope Francis announced his intention to make Mangkhanekhoun a cardinal.[4] He was made a cardinal at a consistory on 28 June 2017.[5]
On 11 December 2016, his cousin was declared a blessed in the Catholic Church, Blessed Luc Sy (1938–1970), one of the Martyrs of Laos.[6]
On 16 December 2017, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane.[7] Francis made him a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on 23 December 2017.[8]
