Apostolic Vicariate of Pakse

Catholic missionary jurisdiction in Laos

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Apostolic Vicariate of Paksé

Vicariatus Apostolicus Paksensis

ອັກຄະສາວົກແທຂອງເມືອງປາກເຊ

Location
Country| Laos
Territory| Champasak, Attapeu, Salavan/Saravan, and Sekong/Xekong
Episcopal conference| Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia
Metropolitan| Immediately subject to the Holy See
Coordinates| 15°07′02″N 105°48′05″E﻿ / ﻿15.1172552°N 105.8013389°E﻿ / 15.1172552; 105.8013389
Statistics
Area| 59,210 km2 (22,860 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics| (as of 2020)
1,484,186
21,445[1] (1.44%)
Parishes| 57[1]
Information
First holder| Jean-Pierre Urkia, M.E.P.
Denomination| Roman Catholic
Sui iuris church| Latin Church
Rite| Roman Rite
Established| 12 June 1967
(57 years, 10 days)
Cathedral| Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pakse
Secular priests| 8[1]
Current leadership
Pope| Francis
Apostolic Vicar| Andrew Souksavath Nouane Asa
Bishops emeritus| Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.V.D.
Map

The Apostolic Vicariate of Pakse (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 Dicastery for Evangelization.

Its cathedral episcopal see is Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, in Pakse.

## History[edit]

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.[citation needed]

## Statistics and extent[edit]

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

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.[citation needed]

## Ordinaries[edit]

### Apostolic Vicars of Pakse[edit]

* Jean-Pierre Urkia, M.E.P. (1967–1975)
* Thomas Khamphan (1975–2000)
* Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.V.D. (2000–2017), appointed Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane
* Andrew Souksavath Nouane Asa (since 2022) [2]

## See also[edit]

* List of Catholic dioceses in Laos

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "The joy of the Church for the new Apostolic Vicar of Paksé". Agenzia Fides. 6 September 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
2. ^ "Pope appoints seminary professor as new bishop in Laos - UCA News".

## External links[edit]

* GCatholic, with Google photo – data for all sections
* Catholic Hierarchy [self-published]

Portals:

* Catholicism
* Laos