Michael Michai Kitbunchu
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His Eminence Michael Michai Cardinal Kitbunchu (Thai: ไมเกิ้ล มีชัย กิจบุญชู, born January 25, 1929) is a Thai prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Archbishop of Bangkok, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1983.
[edit] Biography
Born in Samphran, a district of the Nakhon Pathom Province and an important Catholic enclave, he studied at a minor seminary in Si Racha and at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome. He received a degree in philosophy and theology, and was ordained to the priesthood on December 20, 1959 by Grégoire-Pierre Cardinal Agagianian. Kitbunchu returned to Thailand, and did pastoral work in Ayutthaya, Lopburi, and Bangkok until 1965. He was then named Rector of the Seminary of Bangkok, a post in which he remained until 1972.
On December 18, 1972, Kitbunchu was appointed the second Metropolitan Archbishop of Bangkok by Pope Paul VI. He received his episcopal consecration on June 3, 1973 from Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo, his predecessor as Archbishop, with Bishops Lawrence Thienchai Samanchit and Michel-Auguste-Marie Langer, MEP, serving as co-consecrators.
Kitbunchu was created Cardinal Priest of San Lorenzo in Panisperna by Pope John Paul II in the consistory of February 2, 1983, becoming the first Thai cardinal. He was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 2005 papal conclave that selected Pope Benedict XVI.
[edit] External links
- Biography of the Holy See Press Office
- Catholic-Hierarchy profile
- The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church profile
| Preceded by Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo |
Archbishop of Bangkok 1972–present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
