Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane
| Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane Vicariatus Apostolicus Vientianensis ອັກຄະສາວົກແທນຂອງນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງ | |
|---|---|
|
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart | |
| Location | |
| Country | Laos |
| Metropolitan | Immediately subject to the Holy See |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 98,000 km2 (38,000 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics |
(as of 2002) 1.5 million 11,120 (0.8%) |
| Information | |
| Rite | Latin |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Vientiane |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Apostolic Vicar | Sede Vacante |
| Apostolic Administrator | Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun |
| Map | |
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The Apostolic Vicariate (or Vicariate Apostolic) of Vientiane (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Vientianensis) is a territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church located in northern Laos.
As an apostolic vicariate, it is a pre-diocesan jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop, and exempt, i.e., not part of any ecclesiastical province and directly dependent on the Holy See and its missionary Roman Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
The Apostolic Vicariate's cathedral episcopal see is Sacred Heart Cathedral in Vientiane, one of the country's largest churches. The vicariate is currently vacant, with Bishop Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, Apostolic Vicar of Pakse (Laos), serving as apostolic administrator.
Statistics
The vicariate covers 74,195 km² in the civil Laotian provinces of Houaphan, Xiangkhoang, Vientiane Province, Vientiane Prefecture and most of Bolikhamsai.
As per 2014 it pastorally served 14,947 Catholics (0.7% of 2,216,558 total) in 23 parishes with 5 priests (1 diocesan, 4 religious) and 24 lay religious (4 brothers, 20 sisters).
History
The vicariate goes back to the Apostolic Prefecture of Vientiane and Luang-Prabang, which was created on June 14, 1938, by splitting off the northern part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Laos.
On March 13, 1952, it was elevated to an Apostolic vicariate (hence entitled to a titular bishop, and renamed Vientiane after its see, a former Laotian national capital.
The northern part around Luang Prabang was split off on March 3, 1963, to establish the Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang, which since then has often been held in personal union with Vientiane or by an Apostolic administrator.
Ordinaries
(all Roman Rite)
- Apostolic Prefect of Vientiane and Luang-Prabang
- Giovanni Enrico Mazoyer, Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.), 1938.06.17 – death 1952
- Apostolic Vicars of Vientiane
- Etienne-Auguste-Germain Loosdregt, O.M.I., (1952.03.13 – resigned 1975), Titular Bishop of Amaura (1952.03.13 – death 1980.11.13), President of Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (1964 – retired 1978)
- Lionello Berti, O.M.I., Auxiliary Bishop of Vientiane (1962.06.18 – 1963.03.01), Titular Bishop of Germanicopolis (1962.06.18 –death 1968.02.24), also first Apostolic Vicar of the split-off Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang (Laos) (1963.03.01 – 1968.02.24)
- Thomas Nantha (1975.05.22 – 1984.04.07), also Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang (1975.11.29 – 1984.04.07), President of Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (1979 – 1984); previously Auxiliary Bishop of Vientiane (1974.04.25 – 1975.05.22) and Titular Bishop of Succuba (1974.04.25 – 1984.04.07)
- Jean Khamsé Vithavong, O.M.I., (1984.04.07 – retired 2017.02.02), Titular Bishop of Moglæna (1982.11.19 – ...), also Apostolic Administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang (1984 – 1999) and President of Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (2000 – 2005); succeeded as previous Coadjutor apostolic vicar of Vientiane (1982.11.19 – 1984.04.07)
- Apostolic Administrator (2017.02.02 – ...) Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, Titular Bishop of Aquæ novæ in Proconsulari (2000.10.30 – ...), while Apostolic Vicar of Pakse (Laos) (2000.10.30 – ...), created Cardinal 2017.06.28; previously also President of Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (2009.12 – 2014).
"Sacre Coeur" in Vientiane.
"Sacre Coeur" in Vientiane.
"Sacre Coeur" in Vientiane.