Vicariate Apostolic of Luang Prabang
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Vicariate Apostolic of Luang Prabang (Latin: Apostolicus Vicariatus Luangensis Prabangensis) is a unit of the Roman Catholic Church in northern Laos. It was established on March 1 1963, when it was split off from the Vicariate Apostolic of Vientiane. It covers an area of 83,700 km² of northern Laos, 2,560 of 1.2 million citizen in the area are member of the catholic church.
The vicariate covers the northern provinces of Luang Prabang, Xaignabouli, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Louang Namtha and Bokeo. It is subdivided into 6 parishes. It has only 1 priest.
Since the communist takeover of Laos in 1975 the catholic church in the vicariate of Luang Prabang ist strongly suppressed. Three churches were existing in Luang Prabang 1975, of which one was destroyed, one became a police station and one is used as a residential home. Also the bishop is only allowed to travel to two of the six provinces, namely Luang Prabang and Xaignabouli, and also has to stay in Vientiane as the government doesn't give him a permanent staying permit for the north. However recently the situation starts to improve, in 2005 the first church built since 1975 could be consegrated in Ban Pong Vang (Xaignabouli), also in 2003 the church was allowed to buy land in Luang Prabang to build a residence within the vicariate.
List of bishops
The seat of the apostolic vicar is vacant sind 1975. Since then the vicariate has been led by an Apostolic Administrator.- Banchong Thopanhong (Apostolic Administrator), since April 1999
- Thomas Nantha (Apostolic Administrator), November 29 1975 - April 7 1984
- Alessandro Staccioli, O.M.I., September 26 1968 - November 29 1975
- Lionello Berti, O.M.I., March 1 1963 - February 24 1968
External links
Resources
- [Religious freedom in the Democratic People's Republic of Laos] (PDF document, in German, English and French)
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