BANGKOK, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. — The mission was established as an independent entity in 1662 and subsequently extended to the territory of Singapore (1827) and partly to Malacca (1840). In 1841 it was divided into the two apostolic vicariates, Western and Eastern, assigning to the former the said peninsula with various adjoining territories and islands, except for the Dutch possessions, and to the latter the kingdom of Siamcou, the adjoining territories and islands. After subsequent detachments of territories and rectifications of the borders with Laos and Burma, it was restricted to the kingdom of Siam alone. In 1930, part of its territory was used to Rajaburi (v.), and in 1946 the first mission entrusted to the indigenous clergy, Chantaburi (v.), was created. For the earlier evangelization V. SIAM.
The vicariate was always directed by the Fathers of the Paris Foreign Missions. It has an area of approximately 240,000 sq. km.
with a population of approximately 9,150,000 inhabitants, overwhelmingly Buddhist. The apostolate proceeds slowly, owing to the scarcity of personnel, the difficulties inherent in the environment, and the competition of American Protestants, especially in the educational field. To all this was added, toward the end of 1940, a fierce persecution, with the closure of all Catholic schools and the sentencing of several indigenous priests to various terms of imprisonment. The situation has now improved. In 1948 the Catholics of the vicariate numbered 28,783, with 23 missionaries and 34 indigenous priests. The Brothers of St. Gabriel numbered 27, and the sisters, belonging to four different Congregations, 250. There is also a minor seminary with four students, and publication of the monthly journal Sarasat is being resumed.
Giovanni B. Tragella