Michael Michai Kitbunchu
Michael Michai Cardinal Kitbunchu ( Thai : ไม เกิ้ ล มี ชัย กิจ บุญ ชู , pronunciation: [ majkɤ̂ːn miːʨʰaj kìtbunʨʰuː ]; born January 25, 1929 in Sam Phran , Nakhon Pathom Province , Thailand ) is Archbishop Emeritus of Bangkok .
Life
Michael Mitchai Kitbunchu studied Catholic theology and philosophy at the Seminary of Si Racha and in Rome . He obtained a licentiate in theology and philosophy and was ordained a priest in Rome in 1959 . Between 1959 and 1965 worked as a chaplain in Bangham and Bangkok . From 1965 to 1972 he was Regens head of the Archbishop's Seminary .
On December 18, 1972 he received from Pope Paul VI. the appointment as Archbishop of Bangkok. He was ordained bishop on June 3, 1973 by his predecessor Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo ; Co- consecrators were Lawrence Thiemchai Samanchit , Bishop of Chanthaburi , and Michel-Auguste-Marie Langer , Bishop of Nakhon Sawan . Kitbunchu is not only a well-educated scientist and language expert, but also an enthusiastic pastor. Under his leadership, religious life in Thailand experienced a significant revival, which is reflected, among other things, in the increasing number of graduates from diocesan seminaries.
Pope John Paul II accepted on February 2, 1983, by Kitbunchu's appointment as cardinal priest with the titular church of San Lorenzo in Panisperna, for the first time a Thai into the college of cardinals .
He participated in the 2005 conclave , in which Benedict XVI. was elected Pope. On May 14, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI. Kitbunchu's resignation from the office of Archbishop of Bangkok for reasons of age. He did not take part in the 2013 conclave because he had exceeded the age limit.
Since the death of Paulo Evaristo Arns in December 2016, Kitbunchu has been the longest serving cardinal priest and thus cardinal proto-priest .
Web links
- Kitbunchu, Michael Michai. In: Salvador Miranda : The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. ( Florida International University website), accessed August 8, 2016.
- Entry on Michael Michai Kitbunchu on catholic-hierarchy.org ; accessed on August 8, 2016.
Individual evidence
- ^ Rinuncia dell'Arcivescovo Metropolita di Bangkok (Thailandia) e Nomina del Successore. In: Daily Bulletin. Holy See Press Office , May 14, 2009, accessed March 13, 2016 (Italian).
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo |
Archbishop of Bangkok 1972–2009 |
Francis Xavier Kriengsak Cardinal Kovitvanit |
| Paulo Evaristo Arns |
Cardinal proto-priest since 2016 |
... |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Kitbunchu, Michael Michai |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | ไม เกิ้ ล มี ชัย กิจ บุญ ชู (Thai) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Thai clergyman, senior archbishop of Bangkok and cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church |
| DATE OF BIRTH | January 25, 1929 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Sam Phran , Thailand |