Kriengsak Kovitvanit

Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit (Thai: ฟรังซิสเซเวียร์ เกรียงศักดิ์ โกวิทวาณิช, RTGS: Kriangsak Kowitwanit, pronounced [krīa̯ŋ.sàk kōː.wít.wāː.nít]; born 27 May 1949) is Archbishop of Bangkok.

His Eminence

Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij
Cardinal, Archbishop of Bangkok
Native name
ฟรังซิสเซเวียร์ เกรียงศักดิ์ โกวิทวาณิช
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseBangkok
SeeBangkok
Appointed14 May 2009
Installed16 August 2009
PredecessorMichael Michai Kitbunchu
Other postsCardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Addolorata
Orders
Ordination11 July 1976
by Michael Michai Kitbunchu
Consecration2 June 2007
by Michael Michai Kitbunchu
Created cardinal14 February 2015
by Pope Francis
Personal details
Birth nameFrancis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij
Born (1949-06-27) 27 June 1949
Bang Rak, Bangkok, Thailand
NationalityThai
DenominationRoman Catholic
ParentsJoseph Piti Kovitvanit
Teresa Phatcharin Kovitvanit
Previous postBishop of Nakhon Sawan (2007–2009)
Motto"Verbum crucis virtus est"
(Word of the cross is strength)
Coat of arms
Ordination history of
Kriengsak Kovitvanit
History
Priestly ordination
Date11 July 1976
Episcopal consecration
Principal consecratorMichael Michai Kitbunchu
Co-consecratorsSalvatore Pennacchio Joseph Banchong Aribarg
Date2 June 2007
Cardinalate
Elevated byPope Francis
Date14 February 2015
Styles of
Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal

Biography

Born in Bangkok to ethnic Chinese parents,[1] 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 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, 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 appointed him as bishop of Nakhon Sawan, which had been vacant since 2005, when his predecessor Louis Chamniern Santisukniram was made Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng.[2] He was consecrated on 2 June by Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, whose successor as Archbishop of Bangkok he became on 14 May 2009.[3] Archbishop Kriengsak Kovitvanit was officially installed on 16 August 2009.

On 4 January 2015 it was announced that Pope Francis has appointed him a cardinal. He will 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 of Santa Maria Addolorata.[4]

In April 2015 he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He will hold these memberships until his 80th birthday.

See also

References
  1. "Thai Catholics lend a hand to Myanmar's growing Church and displaced workers". Crux Now. September 20, 2017.
  2. "The Pope appoints new Bishop of Nakhon Sawan". Agenzia Fides. March 7, 2007.
  3. "Archbishop of Bangkok resigns, successor appointed". Agenzia Fides. May 14, 2009. Archived from the original on June 14, 2011.
  4. "Consistory: list of titular church assignments". Vatican Radio. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Louis Chamniern Santisukniram		 Bishop of Nakhon Sawan
7 March 2007–14 May 2009		 Succeeded by
Joseph Pibul Visitnondacha
Preceded by
Michael Michai Kitbunchu		 Archbishop of Bangkok
14 May 2009–present		 Incumbent
Preceded by
titular church established		 Cardinal Priest of Santa Maria Addolorata
2015–present
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