Archdiocese of Bangkok Archidiœcesis Bangkokensis อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Thailand |
| Territory | Bangkok |
| Coordinates | 13°25′56″N 100°18′19″E / 13.4323°N 100.3054°E |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 18,831 km2 (7,271 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2012) 13,226,721[1] 115,945[1] (0.9%) |
| Parishes | 54[1] |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Established | December 18, 1965 |
| Cathedral | Assumption Cathedral, Bangkok |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Archbishop | Kriengsak Kovitvanit |
| Bishops emeritus | Michael Michai Kitbunchu Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus (1983–2009) |
| Map | |
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| Website | |
| catholic.or.th | |
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok (Latin: Archidiœcesis Bangkokensis, Thai: อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ) is a Latin archdiocese in Thailand. The bishop's seat is the Assumption Cathedral, Bangkok.
It dates back to 1662, when the Apostolic Vicariate of Siam was created [1][2][3] on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Cochinchina (in Vietnam).
It was renamed Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Siam (Siam Orientale)[1][2] on 10 September 1841, having lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Siam. On 5 May 1899 it lost more territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Laos.
It was renamed Apostolic Vicariate of Bangkok[1][2] on 3 December 1924.
It lost more territories: on 30 June 1930 to establish Mission sui juris of Rajaburi, on 11 May 1944 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Chantaburi and on 17 November 1959 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Chieng-Mai, both now its suffragan.
On 18 December 1965, it was elevated to the rank of a Metropolitan archdiocese.[1]
On 9 February 1967 it lost territory to establish the Diocese of Nakhon Sawan, as its suffragan.
It enjoyed a papal visit from Pope John Paul II in May 1984.
The archdiocese covers an area of 18,831 km2, and as of 2002 it is responsible for 81,646 Catholic Christians, 0.7% of the about 12 million living in the area. It covers the administrative provinces Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Suphanburi; also the parts west of the Bang Pa Kong River of Chachoengsao and Amphoe Ban Na of Nakhon Nayok belong to the diocese.
Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own archdiocese and these five suffragan bishoprics :
