Apostolic Vicariate of Pakse

Vicariate Apostolic of Paksé Vicariatus Apostolicus Paksensis ອັກຄະສາວົກແທນຂອງເມືອງປາກເຊ
Location
Country	Laos
Metropolitan	Immediately subject to the Holy See
Statistics
Area	59,210 km2 (22,860 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2010) 1,134,196 16,332 (1.4%)
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Latin Rite
Established	12 June 1967
Cathedral	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pakse
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Apostolic Vicar	Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun
Map

The Apostolic Vicariate of Paksé (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Paksensis) is a Latin rite missionary territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Laos. As an apostolic vicariate, it is a pre-diocesan jurisdiction, entitled to a titular bishop. It covers southern Laos.

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

Its cathedral episcopal see is Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, in Pakse. Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun has served as the Apostolic Vicar since 2000.

History

The vicariate was established on 12 June 1967 as Apostolic Vicariate of Pakse / Paksé (French) / 巴色 (正體中文) / Paksen(sis) (Latin adjective), when it was split off from the Apostolic Vicariate of Savannakhet.

Statistics and extent

The vicariate covers the Laotian provinces of Champasak, Salavan, Xekong and Attapu, but most of the Catholics live in Champasak and Saravan.

Covering an area of 45,000 km² of southern Laos, the Vicariate is the smallest of the apostolic vicariates in Laos. As of 2016, only about 15,000 (1.3%) of approximately 1.3 million people living in the area are members of the Catholic Church, half of them belonging to ethnic minorities. It is subdivided into 46 parishes served by only 7 priests. There are also 19 sisters from the Soeurs de la Charite (Sisters of Charity) and the Filles Marie de la Croix (Daughters of Mary of the Cross). As per 2014 it has 7 priests (6 diocesan, 1 religious), 22 lay religious (10 brothers, 12 sisters) and 16 seminarians.

Episcopal Ordinaries

(all Roman Rite)

Apostolic Vicars of Pakse

• Jean-Pierre Urkia, Paris Foreign Missions Society (M.E.P.) (born France) (12 June 1967 – retired 10 July 1975), Titular Bishop of Masclianæ (1967.06.12 – death 2011.12.21)
• Thomas Khamphan (first native incumbent) (10 July 1975 – retired 30 October 2000), Titular Bishop of Semina (1975.07.10 – death 2001.07.26)
• Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun (30 October 2000 – ...), Institute Voluntas Dei (I.V.D.), also President of Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (2009.12 – 2014), Apostolic Administrator of Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane (Laos) (2017.02.02 – ...), created Cardinal-Priest of S. Silvestro in Capite (2017.06.28 – ...), first-ever Laotian Cardinal; previously Titular Bishop of Aquæ novæ in Proconsulari (2000.10.30 – 2017.06.28).

See also

• List of Catholic dioceses in Laos

External links

• GCatholic, with Google photo - data for all sections
• Catholic Hierarchy ^{[self-published]}