Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane

Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane Vicariatus Apostolicus Vientianensis ອັກຄະສາວົກແທນຂອງນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງ
Cathedral of the Sacred Heart
Location
Country	Laos
Metropolitan	Immediately subject to the Holy See
Statistics
Area	98,000 km2 (38,000 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics	(as of 2002) 1.5 million 11,120 (0.8%)
Information
Rite	Latin
Cathedral	Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Vientiane
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Apostolic Vicar	Jean Khamsé Vithavong, O.M.I
Map

Vicariate Apostolic of Vientiane (Latin: Vicariatus Apostolicus Vientianensis) is a subdivision of the Roman Catholic Church in Laos.

The vicariate covers the provinces of Houaphan, Xiangkhoang, Vientiane Province, Vientiane Prefecture and most of Bolikhamsai. It is subdivided into 17 parishes.

One of the largest churches is Sacre Coeur in Vientiane which was built in 1928 and renovated in 2004/2005.

History

The vicariate goes back to the Prefecture Apostolic of Vientiane and Luang-Prabang, which was created on June 14, 1938 by splitting of the northern part of the Vicariate Apostolic of Laos. On March 13, 1952 it was elevated to an apostolic vicariate, and renamed to simply Vientiane. The northern part around Luang Prabang was split off in 1963 and formed the Vicariate Apostolic of Luang Prabang.

Ordinaries

• Jean Khamsé Vithavong, O.M.I., since 1984, was coadjutor vicar apostolic 1982-1984
• Thomas Nantha - 1975-1984
• Etienne-Auguste-Germain Loosdregt, O.M.I., 1952–1975
• Giovanni Enrico Mazoyer, O.M.I., 1938–1952

The vicariate also had an auxiliary bishop temporarily.

• Thomas Nantha - 1974-1975
• Lionello Berti, O.M.I., 1962–1963

• 
  "Sacre Coeur" in Vientiane.
• 
  "Sacre Coeur" in Vientiane.
• 
  "Sacre Coeur" in Vientiane.

External links

• Catholic hierarchy