Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit ( th, ฟรังซิสเซเวียร์ เกรียงศักดิ์ โกวิทวาณิช, , ; born 27 May 1949) is a Thai Catholic prelate and cardinal who has served as Archbishop of Bangkok since 2009.

Biography

Born in Bangkok to ethnic

Chinese Chinese can refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people of Chinese nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic concept of the Chinese nation ** List of ethnic groups in China, people of ...

parents, he entered the St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Sam Phran. From 1970 to 1976 he studied philosophy and theology at the

Pontifical Urbaniana University The Pontifical Urban University, also called the ''Urbaniana'' after its names in both Latin and Italian,; it, Pontificia Università Urbaniana. is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of People ...

in Rome, and was ordained as priest on 11 July 1976. He was first assigned to be assistant priest at the Nativity of Mary Church in Ban Pan, and then at the Epiphany Church Koh Yai (1977–1979). In 1979–1981 he served as vice-rector of St Joseph's Minor Seminary in Sam Phran. He went to the Gregorian University in Rome from 1982 till 1983 to specialize in spirituality. From 1983 to 1989 he was rector of the Holy Family Intermediate Seminary in

Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Ratchasima ( th, นครราชสีมา, ) is one of the four major cities of Isan, Thailand, known as the "big four of Isan". The city is commonly known as Korat (, ), a shortened form of its name. It is the governmental seat of ...

, and then till 1993 under-secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand, as well as rector of Lux Mundi National Major Seminary in Sam Phran since 1992. In 2000 he became parish priest at the church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hua Take, and also since 2001 a special lecturer at Sam Phran major seminary. From 2003 until his appointment as bishop, he was parish priest of the Assumption Cathedral and secretary of the council of priests of the Archdiocese of Bangkok. On 7 March 2007

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the soverei ...

appointed him as bishop of Nakhon Sawan, which had been vacant since 2005, when his predecessor

Louis Chamniern Santisukniram Louis Chamniern Santisukniram ( th, หลุยส์ จำเนียร สันติสุขนิรันดร์; ; born October 30, 1942) was the Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng, Thailand. Louis Chamniern Santisukniram was ordained ...

was made Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng. He was consecrated on 2 June by Cardinal

Michael Michai Kitbunchu Michael Michai Kitbunchu ( th, ไมเกิ้ล มีชัย กิจบุญชู, ; born 25 January 1929) is a Thai prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Bangkok from 1973 to 2009 and was elevated to the ca ...

, whose successor as Archbishop of Bangkok he became on 14 May 2009. Archbishop Kriengsak Kovitvanit was officially installed on 16 August 2009. On 4 January 2015 it was announced that

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

has appointed him a cardinal. Up to the age of 80, he will be eligible to enter a papal conclave to elect the Pope's successor. He was officially made cardinal on 14 February and at that ceremony, he was appointed

Cardinal-Priest A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...

of ''

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''. In April 2015 he was appointed a member of the

Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples A congregation is a large gathering of people, often for the purpose of worship. Congregation may also refer to: * Church (congregation), a Christian organization meeting in a particular place for worship *Congregation (Roman Curia), an administr ...

and of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He will hold these memberships until his 80th birthday.

References

External links

*
Archdiocese of Bangkok on Kriengsak Kovitvanit
(Thai) {{DEFAULTSORT:Kovitvanit, Kriengsak 1949 births Living people Kriengsak Kovitvanit Kriengsak Kovitvanit Kriengsak Kovitvanit Pontifical Gregorian University alumni Pontifical Urban University alumni Kriengsak Kovitvanit Kriengsak Kovitvanit Cardinals created by Pope Francis Members of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples Members of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications

Biography

See also

References

External links