The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangkok, Thailand (Latin: Archidioecesis Bangkokensis, Thai: อัครสังฆมณฑลกรุงเทพฯ) is a Latin archdiocese in Thailand.
Its cathedral episcopal see is the Assumption Cathedral, Bangkok.
It dates back to 1662, when the Apostolic Vicariate of Siam was created on territory split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Cochin (in Vietnam).
It was renamed Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Siam (Siam Orientale) on 10 September 1841, having lost territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Western Siam. On 1899.05.04 it lost more territory to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Laos.
It was renamed Apostolic Vicariate of Bangkok on 3 December 1924.
It lost more territories: on 1930.06.30 to establish Mission sui juris of Rajaburi, on 1944.05.11 to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Chantaburi and on 1959.11.17 to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of Chieng-Mai, both now its suffragan.
On December 18, 1965, it was elevated to the rank of a Metropolitan archdiocese.
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.
(all Roman Rite, long missionary members of a Latin congregation)
Erected in 1662
Apostolic Vicars of Siam
Louis Laneau, Missions Etrangères de Paris (M.E.P.) (1669.07.04 – death 1696.03.16), Titular Bishop of Metellopolis (1669.07.04 – 1696.03.16)
Louis Champion de Cicé, M.E.P (1700.01.19 – death 1727.04.01), Titular Bishop of Sabulon (1700.01.19 – 1727.04.01)
Jean-Jacques Tessier de Quéralay, M.E.P. (1727.04.01 – 1736.09.27), succeeding as former Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Siam (1717.09.17 – 1727.04.01) & Titular Bishop of Rosalia (see) (1717.09.17 – 1736.09.27)
Jean de Lolière-Puycontat, M.E.P. (1738.08.28 – death 1755.12.08), Titular Bishop of Iuliopolis (1738.08.28 – 1755.12.08)
Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. (1755.12.08 – 1776.09.30), succeeding as former Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Siam (1755.01.22 – 1755.12.08), Titular Bishop of Tabraca (1755.01.22 – 1791.11.08), later Ecclesiastical Superior of the Missio sui iuris of Coromandel Coast (India) (1776.09.30 – 1791.11.08)
Olivier-Simon Le Bon, M.E.P. (1776.09.30 – death 1780.10.27), succeeding as former Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Siam (1764.08.22 – 1776.09.30), Titular Bishop of Metellopolis (1764.08.22 – 1780.10.27)
Joseph-Louis Coudé, M.E.P. (1782.01.15 – death 1785.01.08), Titular Bishop of Resaina (1782.01.15 – 1785.01.08)
Arnaud-Antoine Garnault, M.E.P. (1786.03.10 – 1811.03.04), Titular Bishop of Metellopolis (1786.03.10 – 1811.03.04)
Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens, M.E.P. (1811.03.04 – death 1834.03.30), succeeding as former Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Siam (1810.10 – 1811.03.04), Titular Bishop of Sozopolis (1810.06.29 – 1834.03.30)
Barthélemy Bruguière, M.E.P., Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (1828-1831) Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Korea (1831.09.09 – death 1835.10.20), hence never succeeded to the Apostolic Vicar of Siam
Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy, M.E.P. (1834.03.30 – 1841.09.10), succeeding as former Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam (1832.04.05 – 1834.03.30), Titular Bishop of Bitha (1832.04.05 – 1857.05.01), later Apostolic Vicar of Western Siam (Malaysia) (1841.09.10 – 1844.09.07)
Apostolic Vicars of Eastern Siam
Name changed September 10, 1841
Jean-Baptiste Pallegoix, M.E.P. (1841.09.10 – death 1862.06.18), succeeding as former Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Siam (1838.06.03 – 1841.09.10), Titular Bishop of Mallus (1838.06.03 – 1862.06.18)
Ferdinand-Aimé-Augustin-Joseph Dupond, M.E.P. (1864.09.09 – death 1872.12.11), Titular Bishop of Azotus (1864.09.09 – 1872.12.11)
Jean-Louis Vey, M.E.P. (1875.07.30 – death 1909.02.21), Titular Bishop of Gerasa (1875.07.30 – 1909.02.21)
René-Marie-Joseph Perros, M.E.P. (1909.09.17 – 1924.12.03 see below), Titular Bishop of Zoara (1909.09.17 – death 1952.11.27)
Apostolic Vicars of Bangkok
Name changed after its see December 3, 1924
René-Marie-Joseph Perros, M.E.P. (see above 1924.12.03 – 1947.07.12)
Louis-August-Clément Chorin, M.E.P. (1947.07.10 – death 1965.04.29), Titular Bishop of Polystylus (1947.07.10 – 1965.04.29)
Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo (1965.04.29 – 1965.12.18 see below ), succeeding as former Coadjutor Apostolic Vicar of Bangkok (1963.09.13 – 1965.04.29), Titular Bishop of Obba (1963.09.13 – 1965.12.18)
Elevated December 18, 1965
Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo (see above 1965.12.18 – retired 1972.12.18), also President of Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1970 – 1973)
Michael Cardinal Michai Kitbunchu (1972.12.18 – 2009.05.14), also President of Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (1979 – 1982; 1985 – 1991; 1994 – 1997; 2000 – 2006), created Cardinal-Priest of S. Lorenzo in Panisperna (1983.02.02 – ...)
Francis Xavier Cardinal Kriengsak Kovitvanit (2009.05.14 – ...), formerly Bishop of Nakhon Sawan (Thailand) (2007.03.07 – 2009.05.14); also Vice-President of Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (2009.10 – ...), created Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria Addolorata (2015.02.14 [2015.10.11] – ...)
Its ecclesiastical province comprises the Metropolitan's own archdiosese and these five suffragan bishoprics :
Roman Catholic Diocese of Chanthaburi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Chiang Mai
Roman Catholic Diocese of Nakhon Sawan
Roman Catholic Diocese of Ratchaburi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Surat Thani
