Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand), was born on 27 June 1949 in Ban Rak in the archdiocese of Bangkok.

He studied in the seminary of St. Joseph in Sampran. Sent to Rome, he undertook studies in theology and philosophy at the Pontifical Urbanian University (1970-1976), residing at the Collegio Urbano.

He was ordained a priest on 11 July 1976 and incardinated in the archdiocese of Bangkok.

In the same year he served as parish vicar in the Nativity of Mary Church in Ban Pan; parish vicar in the Epiphany Church in Koh Vai from 1977-1979, and vice-rector of the St. Joseph in Sampran minor seminary from 1979 to 1981. From 1982 to 1983 he undertook specialist studies in spirituality at the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. He then returned to Thailand, where he spent six years as rector of the Holy Family intermediate seminary in Nakhon Ratchasima. He was rector of the Lux Mundi national major seminary from 1992 to 2000, and from 1989 to 1993 he served as under-secretary of the Episcopal Conference.

He was appointed as extraordinary professor at the major seminary of Sampran in 2001. He served as parish priest of the Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Hua Take from 2000 to 2003, and parish priest of the Cathedral and secretary of the presbyteral council of the archdiocese of Bangkok from 2003 to 2007.

He was appointed as bishop of Nakhon Sawan by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 March 2007, receiving episcopal consecration on 2 June 2007.

He was appointed as metropolitan Archbishop of Bangkok (Thailand) on 14 May 2009.

He has served as vice-president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand since 2009. From 2015 is President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 14 February 2015, of the Title of Santa Maria Addolorata.

Member of:

• Dicastery for the Evangelization.