Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang

The Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Luangensis Prabangensis) is a Latin Rite jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Laos. As an apostolic vicariate, it is a pre-diocesan jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop. It is located in northern Laos.

Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang Vicariatus Apostolicus Luangensis Prabangensis ອັກຄະສາວົກແທນຂອງແຂວງຫລວງພະບາງ
Location
Country	Laos
Metropolitan	Immediately subject to the Holy See
Statistics
Area	83,700 km2 (32,300 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2010) 1,467,154 2,410 (0.2%)
Parishes	6
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	1 March 1963
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Apostolic Vicar	Sede Vacante
Apostolic Administrator	Fr. Tito Banchong Thopanhong
Map

It is exempt, i.e. not part of any ecclesiastical province but directly dependent on the Holy See and its missionary Dicastery for Evangelization.

It currently has no cathedral since its former Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, in Luang Prabang, has been secularized. The vicariate has been vacant since 1975, entrusted to a series of temporary Apostolic administrators.

Statistics

The vicariate covers 80,425 km² in the northern Laotian civic provinces of Luang Prabang, Xaignabouli, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Louang Namtha and Bokeo.

As of 2014, it pastorally cares for 2,693 Catholics (0.2% of 1,692,000 total) in 8 parishes with one priest and five seminarians.

History

It was established on March 1, 1963 as Apostolic Vicariate of Luang Prabang with territory split off from the Vicariate Apostolic of Vientiane.

Since the Communist takeover of Laos in 1975 the Catholic Church in the vicariate of Luang Prabang has been strongly suppressed.

Ordinaries

Apostolic Vicars of Luang Prabang

• Lionello Berti, O.M.I. (1963-1968)
• Alessandro Staccioli, O.M.I. (1968-1975), appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Siena–Colle di Val d’Elsa–Montalcino

Apostolic Administrators

• Thomas Nantha (1975-1984), concurrently Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane
• Jean Khamsé Vithavong O.M.I (1984-1999), concurrently Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane
• Father Tito Banchong Thopanhong (1999–present)

See also

• List of Catholic dioceses in Laos

External links

• Religious freedom in the Democratic People's Republic of Laos (PDF document, in German, English and French)
• GCatholic, with Google satellite photo
• Catholic hierarchy ^{[self-published]}