The Apostolic Nunciature to Thailand announced on June 27 that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, the Archbishop of Bangkok.
Cardinal Kovithavanij, who was celebrating his birthday on the day of the announcement, has reached the retirement age for bishops as stipulated by Canon Law.
Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand, expressed gratitude for Cardinal Kovithavanij’s “many years of priestly and episcopal service” on behalf of the Catholic Church.
The Holy See has appointed Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Chiang Mai as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Bangkok until a new Archbishop is appointed.
Born in Bangkok to ethnic Chinese parents, Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij began his religious journey at St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Sam Phran.
From 1970 to 1976, he pursued philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, culminating in his ordination as a priest on July 11, 1976.
His early assignments included serving as assistant priest at the Nativity of Mary Church in Ban Pan and the Epiphany Church in Koh Yai from 1977 to 1979.
Between 1979 and 1981, he was the vice-rector of St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary in Sam Phran. He further specialized in spirituality at the Gregorian University in Rome from 1982 to 1983.
From 1983 to 1989, Cardinal Kovithavanij served as rector of the Holy Family Intermediate Seminary in Nakhon Ratchasima.
He then became the under-secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand and rector of Lux Mundi National Major Seminary in Sam Phran, starting in 1992.
In 2000, he was appointed parish priest at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Hua Take, and from 2001, he also served as a special lecturer at Sam Phran major seminary.
From 2003 until his episcopal appointment, he was the parish priest of the Assumption Cathedral and secretary of the council of priests of the Archdiocese of Bangkok.
On March 7, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him bishop of Nakhon Sawan, a position that had been vacant since 2005.
He was consecrated on June 2, 2007, by Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, and later succeeded him as Archbishop of Bangkok on May 14, 2009. Archbishop Kriengsak Kovitvanit was officially installed on August 16, 2009.
Pope Francis announced his elevation to cardinal on January 4, 2015, and he was made Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Addolorata on February 14, 2015.
In April 2015, he was appointed a member of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.
Pope Francis accepted his resignation as Archbishop of Bangkok on June 27, 2024, his 75th birthday. – with reports from Peter Monthienvichienchai
