The Catholic Church in Thailand is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome.

As of 2003 there are 278.000 catholics in Thailand, which make up 0.44% of the total population.

History

The catholic church first made contact with Siam in the 16th century, however no clear documents exist about it. According to one story the Portuguese Antonio de Paiva visited the court of Ayutthaya in 1544 and converted the King to the catholic belief, and baptized to the Portugues name Dom Joâo. However there is proof of the validity of this story.

The first resident missionaries arrived in 1567. Friar Jeronimo da Cruz and Sebastiâo da Canto of the Dominican order stayed in Ayuthhaya for two years, but were then killed by Burmese troops attacking the city. 1582 to 1767 Franciscan missionaries were in the country, but about their misionary work nothing is known. Since 1607 Jesuits were present as well.

May 10-11 1984 Thailand was visited by Pope John Paul II, the first ever visit of a Pope to Thailand.

Administration

The church in Thailand is administrated by 10 dioceses, including two archdioceses.

• Bangkok (Archdiocese)
  • Chanthaburi
  • Chiang Mai
  • Nakhon Sawan
  • Ratchaburi
  • Surat Thani
• Thare and Nonseng (Archdiocese, based in Sakon Nakhon)
  • Nakhon Ratchasima
  • Ubon Ratchathani
  • Udon Thani

External links

• A Study on Thailand and on Don Bosco (http://lox1.loxinfo.co.th/~sniphon)
• A Brief History Of The Catholic Church In Thailand (http://www.sspxasia.com/Newsletters/2002/Oct-Dec/Catholic_Church_in_Thailand.htm)
• Link and address collection (http://lox2.loxinfo.co.th/~thcatcom/)