A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH   IN THAILAND
by Fr. Surachai Chumsriphan

The first Catholic missionaries who came to Siam were probably the chaplains of the Portuguese ships in the 16th century which were sent to Ayutthaya bringing the officers of Portugal to enter into relations with Siam, but there are no documents to confirm this hypothesis.

There is a written history prepared by foreigners stating that in 1544, Antonio de Paiva, a Portuguese had travelled to Ayutthaya in the time of Phra Jairaja and had been bestowed an audience and conversation about religion with the King. The King was converted and baptized, being given the Portugese name Dom Joao. No one and no evidence can confirm this claim.The first missionary who mentioned Siam in writing about his missionary task was St. Francis Xavier himself. He mentioned Siam in his four letters written from Sancian, although his real purpose was to go to China.  However, St Francis Xavier did not go either to China or to Siam because he died on December 3, 1552.

We do not know of any resident missionary in Siam before the year 1567.  Having  examined the documents, the first two missionaries who came to Siam were Friar Jeronimo da Cruz and Sebastiao da Canto, both Dominicans. They arrived in Ayutthaya in 1567. They were given a residence fitting to them in one of the best locations of the city.  Friar Jeronimo da Cruz was killed by a muslim around 1568 and friar Sebastiao da Canto together with the two new missionaries were killed by the Burmese in 1569.  The next to arrive  were  the Franciscans from 1582 to 1767. Their missionary work in Siam was still unknown to us.

The first Jesuit who came to Siam was Father Balthasar Segueira. He arrived in Ayutthaya or Odia during the Holy Week of the year 1607, which means between the 16 and 26 of March 1607. The Jesuits had their own residence, school, college and church.  Their missionary works were recorded by the missionaries.

All  the missionaries mentioned above were sent to Siam under the Padroado system. The setting up of the Sacred Congregation De Propaganda Fide on January 6, 1622 was certainly an event of major importance in the history of the Church and especially in the history of the mission.  Propaganda Fide sent three Apostolic Vicars, Msgr. Francois Pallu, Msgr. Pierre Lambert de la Motte and Msgr. Ignatius Cotolendi, to carry on the missionary works in China and Indochina. However, they could not avoid the conflicts resulting from the Portuguese patronage in these regions. 

On August 22,1662, Msgr. Lambert de la Motte, M. Jean De Bourges, M. Dedier arrived in Ayutthaya. They were the first missionaries of the newly established Missions Etrangeres de Paris (M.E.P.). On January 27, 1664 the other Apostolic Vicar, Francois Pallu, M. Lanaeu, M. Haingues, M. Brindeau and a lay assistant M. De Chameson Foissy arrived in Siam. Msgr. Lambert and Msgr. Pallu had the same opinion that Siam with its policy of religious tolerance was the most convenient base for their persecuted Missions of Cochinchina, Tonkin and China.  So, they  asked Rome for jurisdiction over Siam. It was very difficult for the missionaries of Padroado to accept the rights to superiority of these Apostolic Vicars, so conflict and controversy between the Padroado and Apostolic Vicars were inevitable. After long consideration of the request, Rome approved in 1669 by the Bull Speculatores.  On September 13, 1674 M. Laneau was nominated the Apostolic Vicar of Siam and was consecrated by Msgr. Lambert and Msgr. Pallu.

When the  French missionaries arrived in Ayutthaya in 1662, they were welcomed by ten Portuguese priests and one Spanish priest whom they found serving a Christian community estimated at 2,000 people. With the arrival of Msgr. Pallu, two Bishops, five priests and one lay assistant organized an assembly, the so-called the Synod of 1664 in Ayutthaya. The sessions can be summarized as follows:

1. They planned to institute an apostolic  congregation composed of three orders and this congregation would be named the Congregation of Amateurs de la Croix de Jesus Christ. 

2. They  decided to publish the instructions to the Apostolic Vicars given by Propaganda Fide. They also issued "Instructions to the Missionaries"

3. They agreed to the erection of a seminary.

Undoubtedly, the growth of the Mission of Siam was evident during the long and prosperous period of King Narai the Great (1657-1688) who opened the country to foreigners and gave liberty to the missionaries to preach the Gospel.  King  Narai desired to base his reliance on France and to withdraw from the influence of the Dutch powers. At the same time the French influence in this part of the world strengthened the role of the missionaries and the progress of evangelization. 

By 1665, Lambert had made the program of the Synod come true when he founded the "College General" in Ayutthaya.

In 1669, the first hospital was founded by Lambert and was supervised  by M. Laneau. Besides Ayutthaya, the missionaries preached the Gospel in other places such as Phitsanulok, Lopburi, Samkhok and Bangkok. In the year 1674, there were about 600 Siamese Catholics. It was in this year that the church of the Immaculate Conception in Samsen district of Bangkok was built.  The  Christians of other nationalities such as Portuguese, Annamite, Japanese were more numerous.  In fact, the missionaries had been working from this period until the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, but the fruit of their evangelization was indeed very small.

King Narai's attitude towards Christianity made Constantine Phalkon, Fr. Guy Tachard, a Jesuit priest, and even King Louis XIV misunderstand that there was hope of converting both the King and the whole country to Christianity. This led the missionary activities to disaster when the famous revolution of 1688 occurred.  With an anti-French attitude, Phra Phetraja, the new King persecuted all the Christians. The situation of the Mission became better in 1691 when the King gave the seminary back to Msgr.Laneau. Another persecution occurred during the reign of King Taisra (1709-1733).  The missionaries were forbidden to leave the capital. They were forbidden to use the Thai and Pali language in their teaching of religion. Moreover the end of 1743 and the beginning of 1744 saw further continuing persecution.  Besides these difficulties, Christianity was affected by the invasion of Burma and the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.

With the advent of the present dynasty in 1782, the situation of the Mission improved gradually. The situation of the Catholic Mission at the end of the eighteenth century was not so favorable, since an expulsion of the missionaries took place by the order of King Taksin (1768-1782). King Rama I (1782-1809) sent for the missionaries because he wished to begin negotiations for an alliance with foreign countries and to promote trade with these countries as had been done before. In 1785, there were 413 Siamese Catholics of Portuguese origin at the Santa Cruz church in Thonburi, 379 Cambodian Catholics at the Immaculate Conception church in Samsen district as well as 580 Annamite Catholics.  A Launay described the general situation of the Mission of Siam in the beginning of the nineteenth century stating that in 1802 the total number of the Christians of the Vicariate  was estimated to be about 2,500 and in 1811 about 3,000.

It may be noted that during the time of Msgr. Garnault (1786-1811), the restoration of the Mission begun.  In 1827, the decree of the Pope Leo XII gave the ecclesiastical jurisdiction over Singapore to the Apostolic Vicar of Siam.  Propaganda Fide confirmed this jurisdiction over Singapore to the Apostolic Vicar of Siam on May 12, 1834.   In 1835, about 1,500 Annamite Christians, fleeing from persecution, settled in Samsen and asked asylum from Bangkok. This was the origin of the St. Francis Xavier church in Samsen.

Because of the increasing number of the Catholics and missionaries, Msgr. Courvezy (1834-1841) asked Rome to nominate a Co-adjutor Bishop and in 1838 M. Pallegoix was nominated and consecrated Bishop on July 3, 1838. By the Brief Universi Dominici of September 10, 1841, Rome separated the ecclesiastical region of Malaysia from the Mission of Siam, establishing the Mission of Oriental Siam comprising the Kingdom of Siam and Laos, and the Mission of Occidental Siam which consisted of the  Malayan Peninsula, the island of Sumatra and Southern Burma. Msgr. Pallegoix was the Apostolic Vicar of Oriental Siam and Msgr. Courvezy, Apostolic Vicar of Occidental Siam.

A very famous and outstanding person during the XIX century in the Mission of Siam was Msgr. Pallegoix (1841-1862), whose fame spread far beyond the borders of Siam.  He had a brilliant mind and deep knowledge of science, mathematics and languages. He acquired a very deep knowledge of Siamese and Pali languages. He was the author of the well-known Thai-Latin-French-English dictionary, the first such fundamental work for the Thai language. While he was at the Immaculate Conception church, he learned Pali from Prince Mongkut who had entered the monkhood at Wat Rajathivas near his church. Prince Mongkut in turn took Latin lessons from him.

The annual report of 1867 of Msgr. Dupond (1865-1872) gave us the general view of the situation of the Mission as follows: the number of the Christians was 8,000, baptism of the Siamese 667, baptism of children 257.   Since Msgr. Dupond was full of zeal and could speak Siamese as well as two Chinese dialects, he gave great exposure to the Mission among the Chinese and the Siamese. He built eight new churches for these new Christian communnities and the older places were also quickly developed. When he died on December 15, 1872, he left the Mission of Siam composed of 10,000 Christians, twenty European missionaries and eight native priests.

During the period of Msgr. Jean Louis Vey (1875-1909), a period of expansion began seriously.  The masterpiece of his works was the evangelization carried out in Laos where he had initiated the spreading of the Good News by sending P. Prodhomme and P. Xavier Guego to begin the new Mission on January 2, 1881. Finally Pope Leo XIII erected the Apostolic Vicariate of Laos on May 4, 1899 and P. Cuaz was nominated Apostolic Vicar of Laos on May 24, 1899.  Under the direction of Msgr. Vey, who had governed the Mission for 34 years, the Mission of Siam progressed greatly in various ways.  In 1909, the last year of Msgr. Vey's episcopacy, the Mission of Siam included 23,600 Christians, 57 churches and chapels with 79 Christian communities, 59 seminaries, 44 missionaries, 21 native priest, 17 religious men, 123 religious women, 21 catechists, 3 colleges with 861 pupils, 62 schools with 2,692 pupils and one hospital. 

The Mission had envisioned the needs of modern times and cooperation in the country - reformation initiated by King Rama IV and King Rama V.  A printing press has been set up quite early. In 1885 P. Colombet founded the first modern Catholic school in Bangkok, The Assumption College.  It was placed under the care of the Brothers of St. Gabriel when they arrived in 1901 following Msgr. Vey's  invitation. The Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres came to Siam even before the Brothers of St. Gabriel, that is in 1898, to take care of and direct St. Louis Hospital which Msgr. Vey had just founded and also to take responsibility for formation of the native religious women which had been revived at Samsen, the so-called Amantes de la Croix community.

From time to time, Msgr. Vey always mentioned the project of evangelization in the Northwest of Siam, close to Burma, since the central West possessed already several stations.  However, the circumstances, the necessary resources, the required personnel for these enterprises had never been at his disposal to undertake the evangelization.  During the time of Msgr. Perros (1909-1947), his successor, the spread of the Catholic Mission prospered more than previous. The Missionaries were sent to fulfill his projects in the North, the Northwest in Chiangmai, Chiangrai, and Lampang. They advanced also to Nakhonratchasima.  As  a result, it can now be said that the Catholic religion has spread to all parts of Siam. During the XX century, the Mission of Siam followed the slow but uninterrupted progress of the other Missions.  The Southwest part of the country became an independent Mission in 1930. This was the Apostolic Vicarate of Ratchaburi under the care of the Salesian priests.  It became an Apostolic Prefecture in May 28, 1934 (AAB, Perros, annual Report, 1940). Then it was erected an Apostolic Vicariate on April 3, 1941 (AAB, Document of Dioceses, Ratchaburi Diocese). Ratchaburi was finally erected a Diocese on December 18, 1965. The Chanthabun Apostolic Vicariate was established on October 18, 1944 (AAB, Documents of Dioceses, Chanthaburi Diocese) and was also erected a Diocese on December 18, 1965 The Apostolic Prefecture of Chiengmai was erected in 1960 and was also erected a Diocese on December 18, 1965. 

A.D. 1932 during the reign of the King Rama VII, there was a big change in politics from Absolute Monarchy to democracy, the King is under the Constitutions.

A.D. 1939 the Government changed the name from SIAM to THAILAND. During the XX century, many other religious congregations, both men and women, came  to work in Siam, now known as "THAILAND", the land of the free people.  They include among others: Ursulines of the Roman Union, Carmelites, Salesians, Sisters of Mary Help of the Christians, Capuchin Sisters, Redemptorists, Camillian Fathers, Fathers of Betharam, De La Salle Brothers, Stigmatines, Jesuits, Sisters of Holy Infant Jesus, S.A.M. Fathers, Oblates of Mary Immaculate, without counting  the various Thai congregations of Sisters in each diocese. 

Since the Catholic Church in Thailand had increased through the zealous labor of the Bishops and missionaries indications had shown greater growth in the future, the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide judged that the time was ripe to establish the Sacred Hierarchy in Thailand.  Strong support was also given by two former Apostolic Delegates to Thailand, namely, from the Right Reverend   Monsignor John Gordon and the Right Reverend Monsignor Angelo Pedroni. Therefore, on December 18, 1965 two ecclesiastical Provinces of Bangkok and Tharae Nongsaeng were created, giving to Thailand its first Archbishops for the country.

The Ecclesiastical Province of Bangkok is made up of :

*The Metropolitan Church of Bangkok 
(Formerly an Apostolic Vicariate) with its Cathedral dedicated to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

*      Suffragan Dioceses :

Ratchaburi, created on Dec. 18, 1965. Previously it was erected an Apostolic Vicariate on April 3, 1941.  Its Cathedral is at Bang Nokkuek, consecrated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Chanthaburi, created on Dec. 18, 1965. Formerly it was erected an Apostolic Varicate on October 18, 1944 and was  assigned to the native clergy. Its Cathedral is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Chiangmai, created on Dec. 18, 1965. It was erected an Apostolic Prefecture in 1960.  Its Cathedral is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. 

*The Ecclesiastical Province of Thare-Nongsaeng  includes: The Archdiocese of Tharae-Nongsaeng which was created by the Bull "Qui in fastigio" of December 18, 1965.  It was erected an Apostolic Vicariate on December 21, 1950. The Cathedral is consecrated to St. Michael the Archangel.

Suffragan Dioceses :

Ubon Ratchathani, created on Dec. 22, 1965 by the decision of the Holy See.  It had been erected an Apostolic Vicariate on May 7, 1953. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Immacu-late Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nakhon Ratchasima, created on Dec. 18, 1965.  Formerly it was erected an Apostolic Vicariate on March 22, 1965. Its Cathedral is dedicated to the Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes.

Udon Thani, created on Dec. 18, 1965.  Previously it waserected an Apostolic Prefecture on May 7, 1953.  The Cathe-dral is consecrated to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Perpetual Help.

*Later two other dioceses were erected :

Nakhon Sawan was erected and became the suffragan dio-cese of  Bangkok Metropolitan on February 25, 1967.  Its Cathedral is dedicated to St. Anna.

Surat Thani was created on June 26, 1969 by the Bull "Qui Regno Christi" and was assigned to the Salesian priests. The Diocese also became a suffragan diocese of Bangkok. 

In 1973, Archbishop Joseph Kiamsun Nittayo of Bangkok resigned from auto exercise for reasons of health and old age. His successor was Archbishop Michael Michai Kitbunchu, who later, on February 2, 1983, was nominated by His Holiness Pope John Paul the Second to become a Cardinal , the first Cardinal of Thailand.

At that time, there was a great amount of political and social changes especially in the capital city of Bangkok. In consequence, the Church felt an increase in its responsibilities and a need for expansion because of its numerous and varied activities, especially in the fields of welfare and social developments. The Church also took to her responsibility the  refugees from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Burma.  So the Church in Thailand assisted the government to relieve and help them by organizing COERR (Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees) in the year 1975. These many efforts were aimed to protect the moral values of life and to face the urgent problems created by the influx of refugees from Indochina.

In 1984 on the 10th and 11th of May, His Holiness Pope John Paul the Second came for a short visit to Thailand; this gave a wonderful opportunity to all the faithful to welcome him and to see and closely feel his presence.

A.D. 1989 Pope John Paul II appointed the 7th Thai Martyrs as Blessed in Rome and on March 5, 2000 Fr. Nicolas Bunkerd Kitbamrung for the causes of reason of faith. At that time French government tried to invade Indochina. A Thai Fundamentalist movement was against French people and also there is the Catholics in Thailand.

In the remote areas in Thailand  great poverty, lack of education and of public health facilities, as a consequence there is an increase in the sowed problems such of  emigration of the working populations, including a rise in the problem of prostitution. Furthermore, the rapid spread of materialistic progress and modern technology has not given much chance to the population to adapt itself properly to these new changes, and hence, the population is often unable to make some reasonable choices.  Everyone wants everything as soon as possible.

Conclusion: Today, in  the ten dioceses  of Thailand, the various responsibilities of the ten Bishops are well coordinated through the regular meetings of the Episcopal Conference.  The whole population of Thailand is around 65 million inhabitants (Statistic of 2005), but the Catholic Population is hardly 313,162 that is about 0.4 % only. 

Thailand has been called าThe Land of  Smilesำ.  In fact, in spite of the presence of various  religions in the country, all people live in peace and harmony.  And so in a true spirit of friendship, the Catholic Church continues to collaborate in the spiritual and social development of the country.