The Card. Louis-Marie Ling Mangkhanekhoun, I.V.D., Apostolic vicar of Vientiane (Laos), was born on 5 April 1944 in Laos. He completed his academic formation in Laos and in Canada.

He was ordained a priest on 5 November 1972 at the apostolic vicariate of Vientiane.

He speaks Khmu, Laotian, French and English.

He is responsible for the “school of catechists” and the visits to mountain villages.

In 1975 he was appointed as parish priest and pro-vicar of the apostolic vicar of Vientiane.

On 30 October he was appointed as apostolic vicar of Pakse and received episcopal consecration on 22 April 2001.

On 2 February 2017, he was appointed as apostolic administrator “sede vacante et ad nutum Sanctae Sedis” of Vientiane.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the consistory of 28 June 2017, of the Title of San Silvestro in Capite.

Member of:

• Dicasteries: for the Evangelization; for Inter-religious Dialogue; for Promoting Integral Human.