Summary
Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, IVD (born 8 April 1944) is a Laotian prelate of the Catholic Church. A bishop since 2001, he was made a cardinal on 28 June 2017 and has served as the Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane since 16 December 2017. He is the first cardinal from Laos.[1]
Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun IVD | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane | |
 Mangkhanekhoun, 28 June 2017 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| See | Vientiane |
| Appointed | 16 December 2017 |
| Predecessor | Jean Khamsé Vithavong |
| Other post(s) | Cardinal-Priest of San Silvestro in Capite (2017–present) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 5 November 1972 |
| Consecration | 22 April 2001 by Jean Khamsé Vitahavong |
| Created cardinal | 28 June 2017 by Pope Francis |
| Rank | Cardinal-Priest |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun 8 April 1944 Bonha-Louang, Laos |
| Previous post(s) |
|
| Motto | Totus tuus |
| Coat of arms |  |
He speaks Khmu, Laotian, French, and English.[2] He is sometimes referred to as Bishop or Cardinal Ling,[1][3] though his last name is Mangkhanekhoun.[4]
Biography edit
He was born Ling Mangkhanekhoun was born on 8 April 1944 in Bonha-Louang in Xiangkhouang province in northeastern Laos.[5] He is an ethnic Khmu.[1] He was baptized in 1952 after his widowed mother became a Catholic.[3] He received his religious instruction from French Oblate Missionaries.[6] In the 1960s he was sent by the Oblates as the first Laotian to study philosophy and theology at the Voluntas Dei seminary in the Diocese of Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada. He was ordained a priest in a hurried ceremony in a refugee camp[3] on 5 November 1972 for the Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane, Laos. He spent the years 1984 to 1987 in prison.[3]
He is a member of Institut Voluntas Dei, founded in 1958 at Trois-Rivières, Quebec. He took his first name Louis-Marie from its founder, Fr. Louis-Marie Parent.[7]
He worked as a priest in the Vicariate of Vientiane for more than 25 years, more than a decade of that time in rural areas,[6] and became its vicar general. On 30 October 2000, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Vicar of Paksé and titular bishop of Aquae Novae in Proconsulari.[8] He was consecrated a bishop on 22 April 2001[9] by Bishop Jean Khamsé Vithavong, Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane.
He developed a system of seminary education that requires a candidate for the priesthood, after three years of study, to spend one to three years in pastoral work. He explained that they are "catechists, carrying medicines, aid, prayers for the people of the mountain. They integrate with the villagers, live as the villagers do in everything."[1] His other principal charges as a bishop in Laos have been providing formation for Laotian priests, since the government does not allow foreign missionaries to work there,[5] and planning for his own successor.[6]
He was president of the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia from 2009 to 2014.[5]
On 11 December 2016, his cousin was declared a blessed in the Catholic Church, Blessed Luc Sy (1938–1970), one of the Martyrs of Laos.[10]
On 2 February 2017, Pope Francis gave him the additional responsibilities of apostolic administrator of the Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane.[11]
On 21 May 2017, Pope Francis announced his intention to make Mangkhanekhoun a cardinal.[12] He was made a cardinal at a consistory on 28 June 2017,[13] the first from Laos.[1] With the rank of cardinal-priest, he was assigned the title of San Silvestro in Capite.[14] On 4 October Pope Francis made him a member of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.[15]
On 16 December 2017, Pope Francis named him Apostolic Vicar of Vientiane.[16] Francis made him a member of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development on 23 December 2017[17] and of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue on 8 July 2020.[18]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "New cardinal from Laos known for kindness and open-minded dialogue". America. Catholic News Service. 25 May 2017. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Annuncio di Concistoro il 28 giugno per la creazione di nuovi Cardinali, 21.05.2017" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 21 May 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d Affatato, Paolo (25 May 2017). "Il laotiano Ling dal carcere alla porpora". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ "Laotian bishop surprised to be named cardinal". National Catholic Reporter (Interview). Interviewed by Peter Tran. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
As you know, my last name, Mangkanekhoum [MANG-KHA-NE-KHUN], is difficult to say.
- ^ a b c "Un cardinal inattendu : Mgr Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, vicaire apostolique au Laos, créé cardinal par le pape François". Missions Étangères de Paris (in French). 22 May 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Cardinal Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, IVD". OMI World (Interview). Interviewed by Shanil Jayawardena. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Cardinal Louis Ling & Blessed Luc Sy". Voluntas Dei Institute. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. XCIII. 2001. p. 188. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Apostolic Vicariate of Vientiane". UCA News. Archived from the original on 5 February 2022. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ Bunson, Matthew E. (26 May 2017). "Pope Francis' Cardinals From the Peripheries". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ "Other Pontifical Acts, 02.02.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Francesco annuncia la nomina di cinque nuovi cardinali". RAI News (in Italian). 21 May 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ Brockhaus, Hannah (28 June 2017). "Pope Francis to Five New Cardinals: Jesus 'Calls You to Serve Like Him and With Him'". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Ordinary Public Consistory: Assignment of Titles, 28.06.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 04.10.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 4 October 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 16.12.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2017.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 23.12.2017" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
- ^ "Resignations and Appointments, 08.07.2020" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
External links edit
- "Mangkhanekhoun Card. Louis-Marie Ling". Holy See Press Office. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
- Apostolic Vicariate of Paksé (GCatholic.org)
