Diocese of Nakhon Sawan
Latin Catholic diocese in Thailand
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The Diocese of Nakhon Sawan (Dioecesis Nakhonsauanensis, Thai: สังฆมณฑลนครสวรรค์) in central Thailand is a Latin Catholic suffragan diocese of the Archdiocese of Bangkok.
Diocese of Nakhon Sawan Dioecesis Nakhonsauanensis สังฆมณฑลนครสวรรค์ | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Country |  Thailand |
| Ecclesiastical province | Bangkok |
| Metropolitan | Bangkok |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 93,547 km2 (36,119 sq mi) |
Population
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| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Sui iuris church | Latin Church |
| Rite | Roman Rite |
| Cathedral | St Anne's Cathedral in Nakhon Sawan |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Leo XIV |
| Bishop | Paul Tawat Singsa |
| Metropolitan Archbishop | Kriengsak Kovitvanit |
| Map | |
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The diocese covers an area of 93,547 km2, covering 13 provinces - Chainat, Kamphaeng Phet, Lopburi, Nakhon Sawan, Saraburi, Sukhothai, Tak, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit.[1]
As of 2001, of the 8.2 million citizens, 9,237 are Catholics. It is divided into 28 parishes, having 27 priests altogether.
History
The diocese was erected on February 9, 1967, when it was split off from the archdiocese of Bangkok.
Cathedral
The St. Anna Cathedral is located in downtown Nakhon Sawan (15°41′37″N 100°7′13″E).
Bishops
- Michel-Auguste-Marie Langer, M.E.P. (February 9, 1967 – May 24, 1976)
- Joseph Banchong Aribarg (May 24, 1976 – November 5, 1998)
- Louis Chamniern Santisukniram (November 5, 1998 – July 1, 2005); became Archbishop of Thare and Nonseng
- Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit (March 7, 2007 – May 15, 2009); became Archbishop of Bangkok
- Joseph Pibul Visitnondachai (June 19, 2009 – February 12, 2024)
- Paul Tawat Singsa (February 12, 2024 – )