Thailand’s Catholics mourn Pope

Michael Michai Cardinal Kitbunchu

Function: Archbishop of Bangkok, Thailand

Title: Cardinal Priest of S Lorenzo in Panisperna

Birthdate: Jan 25, 1929	Country: Thailand

Elevated: Feb 02, 1983	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org

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Thailand’s Catholics mourn Pope
Apr 14, 2005
Several hundred Thai Catholics across the country have gathered in prayer to mourn the death of Pope John Paul II.

BANGKOK, April 3 2005 (TNA) – Prayers were held at the Assumption Cathedral in downtown Bangkok, presided over by the Thai Cardinal, Meechai Kitbunchu.

A Vatican statement said the 84-year-old Pontiff died Saturday evening in his private apartment.

The cardinal told the mass that the Pope had passed away at 2.37 am (Thailand time) on Sunday.

After the mass, the cardinal told journalists that he planned to travel to the Vatican within the next two days to participate with other cardinals in the election of the Pope’s successor.

The new pope must be elected within 20 days of the death of the Pontiff.

In December when Thailand was hit by the tsunami, the Pope sent a message expressing his sorrow and donated US$50,000 to help aid the disaster victims.

The Pope also urged Roman Catholic Church relief agencies to help provide more than US$5 million in assistance to the tsunami victims, the cardinal said.

The late Pope visited Thailand between 10-11 May 1984, when he called on the King, Queen and other members of the Royal family.

He also visited a Cambodian refugee camp in Phanas Nikom district of ChonBuri province and urged the international community to help refugees.

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