CityNews – The Roman Catholic Pope Francis has created a new Diocese in Chiang Rai that encompasses the whole of the Northern Thai region, specifically ethnic minorities.
On April 25, it was reported that Pope Francis created a new diocese and appointed Father joseph Wutthilert Haelom, the vicar general of the Bangkok Archdiocese, to oversee its formation.
Chiang Mai already has it’s own Diocese that serves over 60,000 lay people across the province. In past years, people living outside the province would also be incorporated into this Diocese.
However, the new Chiang Rai Diocese has now been formed, with a membership of 16,000 Catholics, most of which are ethnic minorities living outside of the city.
Among the ethnic people in the Chiang Rai Diocese are the Archa, Lanna, Lahu, Isan, Thaiyai and Kachin people, said a statement put out by the office of Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij.
The new Diocese will cover a wide area of rural northern Thailand, including Phrae, Nan, Phayao and the Ngao district in Lampang.