# Michael Michai Kitbunchu

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Thai cardinal (born 1929)

Michael Michai Kitbunchu ไมเกิ้ล มีชัย กิจบุญชู Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus of Bangkok Cardinal Kitbunchu in 2023 See Bangkok Appointed 18 December 1972 Installed 3 June 1973 Term ended 14 May 2009 Predecessor Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo Successor Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij Other posts Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Panisperna (since 1983) Protopriest of the College of Cardinals (since 2016) Orders Ordination 20 December 1959 by Gregorio Pietro Agagianian Consecration 3 June 1973 by Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo Created cardinal 2 February 1983 by Pope John Paul II Rank Cardinal-Priest Personal details Born (1929-01-25) 25 January 1929 (age 97) Sam Phran, Nakhon Pathom, Siam Parents Joseph Yuhong Kitbunchu (deceased) Maria Klueab Kitbunchu (deceased) Motto Through the Cross to light (Per crucem ad lucem) Coat of arms

**Michael Michai Kitbunchu** ([Thai](/source/Thai_language): ไมเกิ้ล มีชัย กิจบุญชู, pronounced [\[māj.kɤ̂l mīː.t͡ɕʰāj kìt.būn.t͡ɕʰūː, māj.kɤ̂ɫ-, māj.kɤ̂n-\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Thai); born 25 January 1929) is a Thai prelate of the [Catholic Church](/source/Catholic_Church). He served as Archbishop of [Bangkok](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Bangkok) from 1973 to 2009 and was made a [cardinal](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) in 1983. He has been the [Protopriest](/source/Protopriest_of_the_College_of_Cardinals) of the [College of Cardinals](/source/College_of_Cardinals) since 14 December 2016. He is the first cardinal from Thailand. He was president of the Thai Episcopal Conference from 1979 to 1982 and from 2000 to 2006. As of 2025, Kitbunchu is the longest serving cardinal.

## Early life and ministry

Kitbunchu was born in [Sam Phran](/source/Amphoe_Sam_Phran), a district of the [Nakhon Pathom Province](/source/Nakhon_Pathom_Province), to parents of [ethnic Chinese](/source/Chinese-Thai) descent and studied at the [minor seminary](/source/Minor_seminary) of [Si Racha](/source/Amphoe_Si_Racha).[1] He then furthered his studies at the [Pontifical Urbaniana University](/source/Pontifical_Urbaniana_University) in Rome, where he obtained a [licentiate](/source/Licentiate_(degree)) in both philosophy and [theology](/source/Licentiate_of_Sacred_Theology).[2] While in Rome, he was [ordained](/source/Holy_orders) to the priesthood by Cardinal [Grégoire-Pierre Agagianian](/source/Gr%C3%A9goire-Pierre_Agagianian) on 20 December 1959.

He returned to [Thailand](/source/Thailand) and served as [assistant pastor](/source/Curate) and then pastor in Bang Kham, and later became pastor of Calvary Parish in [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok).[2] He was also an [archdiocesan](/source/Archdiocese) [consultor](/source/Consultor) and served as [rector](/source/Rector_(ecclesiastical)) of the metropolitan [seminary](/source/Seminary) of Bangkok from 1965 to 1972.

## Episcopal career

On 18 December 1972, [Pope Paul VI](/source/Pope_Paul_VI) appointed Kitbunchu the second Archbishop of [Bangkok](/source/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Bangkok). He received his [episcopal consecration](/source/Bishop_(Catholic_Church)) on 3 June 1973 from Archbishop [Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Joseph_Khiamsun_Nittayo&action=edit&redlink=1), with Bishops [Lawrence Thienchai Samanchit](/source/Lawrence_Thienchai_Samanchit) and [Michel-Auguste–Marie Langer](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michel-Auguste%E2%80%93Marie_Langer&action=edit&redlink=1), [MEP](/source/Paris_Foreign_Missions_Society), serving as [co-consecrators](/source/Consecrator). He served as President of the Thai [Episcopal Conference](/source/Episcopal_Conference) from 1979 to 1982, and again from 2000 to 2006.[2]

[Pope John Paul II](/source/Pope_John_Paul_II) created him [Cardinal-Priest](/source/Cardinal_(Catholic_Church)) of [San Lorenzo in Panisperna](/source/San_Lorenzo_in_Panisperna) in the [consistory](/source/Papal_consistory) of 2 February 1983; he was the first cardinal from Thailand.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Kitbunchu was one of the [cardinal electors](/source/Cardinal_electors_in_Papal_conclave%2C_2005) who participated in the [2005 papal conclave](/source/Papal_conclave%2C_2005) that selected [Pope Benedict XVI](/source/Pope_Benedict_XVI). He denied [funeral Masses](/source/Funeral_Masses) to drug traffickers, saying that such people "destroy society" and engage in "acts of indirect murder."[3] He once expressed his [opposition to abortion](/source/Anti-abortion_movements) by saying, "Abortion is a great crime, because the one who should protect the child in her womb becomes the one who destroys the child."[4]

During the [2006 political crisis](/source/2005%E2%80%932006_Thai_political_crisis) in his Thailand, Kitbunchu called for unity, saying, "All Thai people are patriotic and want the country to progress and develop on all fields, but now the political crisis has disturbed and worried the people." He also asked Thais to "correct what is wrong and forgive each other."[5]

Kitbunchu resigned from his position as Archbishop of Bangkok on 14 May 2009. At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest active head of an [archdiocese](/source/Archdiocese) in the [Latin Church](/source/Latin_Church). In addition to his native language, [Central Thai](/source/Thai_language) (official and national) and his [ethnic Chinese dialect](/source/Varieties_of_Chinese) of [Teochew](/source/Teochew_dialect), he can also speak other languages such as [Latin](/source/Latin), English, Italian, French and Standard [Mandarin](/source/Mandarin_Chinese).[2]

From the death of [Roger Etchegaray](/source/Roger_Etchegaray) in 2019, Kitbunchu and [Alexandre do Nascimento](/source/Alexandre_do_Nascimento) were tied as the longest-tenured members of the College of Cardinals, both having been appointed in 1983. After do Nascimento's death on September 28, 2024, Kitbunchu became the sole longest-tenured member of the College.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Bangkok's Chinese-Thai Catholics want Chinese Mass"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170510101212/http://www.speroforum.com/site/print.asp?idarticle=3507). *Spero News*. 5 May 2006. Archived from [the original](http://www.speroforum.com/site/print.asp?idarticle=3507) on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2016.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-vatican_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-vatican_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-vatican_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-vatican_2-3) ["KITBUNCHU Card. Michael Michai"](https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_kitbunchu_mm_en.html). *[Holy See](/source/Holy_See)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20201021042054/https://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/documentazione/documents/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_kitbunchu_mm_en.html) from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-drug_3-0)** ["Cardinal Tells Priests to Deny Funerals to Drug Traffickers"](http://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/2003/05/09/cardinal-tells-priests-to-deny-funeral-mass-to-drug-traffickers&post_id=22422). *UCA News*. 9 May 2003. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220211136/http://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/2003/05/09/cardinal-tells-priests-to-deny-funeral-mass-to-drug-traffickers&post_id=22422) from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-conclave_4-0)** ["Michai Kitbunchu, first cardinal from Thailand"](http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=3038&dos=50&size=A). *Asia News*. 14 April 2005. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120305234200/http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=3038&dos=50&size=A) from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-chaos_5-0)** ["Five Religious Leaders Call For Unity in Time of Political Chaos"](http://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/2006/03/24/five-religious-leaders-call-for-unity-in-time-of-political-chaos&post_id=27076). *UCA News*. 24 March 2006. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220211130/http://www.ucanews.com/story-archive/?post_name=/2006/03/24/five-religious-leaders-call-for-unity-in-time-of-political-chaos&post_id=27076) from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Michael Michai Kitbunchu](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Michael_Michai_Kitbunchu)***.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Michael Michai Kitbunchu](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Michael_Michai_Kitbunchu).

- ["Kitbunchu Card. Michael Michai"](https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_kitbunchu_mm.html). [Holy See Press Office](/source/Holy_See_Press_Office). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170904070526/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_kitbunchu_mm.html) from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.

Catholic Church titles Preceded by Joseph Khiamsun Nittayo Archbishop of Bangkok 18 December 1972 – 14 May 2009 Succeeded by Kriengsak Kovitvanit Preceded by Antonio Caggiano Cardinal Priest of San Lorenzo in Panisperna 2 February 1983 – Incumbent Preceded by Paulo Evaristo Arns Cardinal Protopriest 14 December 2016 –

v t e College of Cardinals List of current cardinals Cardinals of the Catholic Church under Pope Leo XIV in order of precedence Cardinal bishops Re Sandri Arinze Bertone Martins Parolin Ouellet Filoni Stella Tagle Raï Sako Cardinal priests Kitbunchu Poupard Wetter López Rodríguez Mahony Darmaatmadja Wamala Maida Puljić Sandoval Stafford De Giorgi Rouco Schönborn Rivera Pujats Sepe Kasper Bačkis Errázuriz Napier Rodríguez Cipriani Herranz Scola Okogie Zubeir Wako Rigali Antonelli Turkson Bozanić Barbarin Erdő Rodé Vallini Rosales Ricard Cañizares O'Malley Dziwisz Zen Lajolo Comastri Ryłko Farina Brady Martínez Sistach Bagnasco Sarr Gracias Robles DiNardo Scherer Njue Sarah Monterisi Burke Koch Piacenza Ravasi Romeo Wuerl Assis Nycz Ranjith Marx Brandmüller de Castro Abril Vegliò Bertello Coccopalmerio Aviz O'Brien Calcagno Versaldi Alencherry Collins Eijk Betori Dolan Woelki Tong Harvey Thottunkal Onaiyekan Salazar Baldisseri Müller Nichols Brenes Lacroix Kutwa Tempesta Bassetti Poli Yeom Ezzati Ouédraogo Quevedo Langlois Clemente Souraphiel Dew Nguyễn Suárez Bo Kovithavanij Montenegro Sturla Blázquez Lacunza Gomes Furtado Mafi Villalba Langa Nzapalainga Osoro Rocha Cupich D'Rozario Porras De Kesel Piat Aguiar Retes Ribat Tobin Zerbo Omella Arborelius Mangkhanekhoun Rosa De Donatis Coutts Marto Barreto Tsarahazana Petrocchi Maeda Ticona Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo García Ambongo Besungu Hollerich Ramazzini Zuppi López Romero Tamkevičius Kambanda Gregory Advincula Aós Lojudice Arizmendi Aveline Okpaleke Steiner Ferrão McElroy do Carmo da Silva Cantoni Poola Costa Goh Martínez Flores Marengo Jiménez Miglio Pizzaballa Brislin Rossi Rueda Ryś Mulla Cobo Rugambwa Francis Chow Bustillo Alves Aguiar Padrón Castillo Bokalic Cabrera Chomalí Kikuchi David Nemet Spengler Bessi Dogbo Vesco Mathieu Repole Reina Leo Bychok Battaglia Cardinal deacons Mamberti Zenari Farrell Simoni Ladaria Becciu Krajewski Bocos Mendonça Czerny Fitzgerald Grech Semeraro Gambetti Tomasi Cantalamessa Feroci Roche You Vérgez Ghirlanda Frezza Gugerotti Fernández Pierre Fernández Artime Marchetto Acerbi Makrickas Radcliffe Baggio Koovakad Cardinals ineligible to participate in a papal conclave in italics See also: Titular Titular church List of titular churches List of creations of cardinals Category Media Catholic Church portal

v t e Cardinals created by John Paul II 1979 Casaroli Caprio Cé Righi-Lambertini Căn Civardi Corripio y Ahumada Asajiro Satowaki Etchegaray Ballestrero Ó Fiaich Carter Macharski Rubin Kung Pin-mei 1983 Khoraish Yago Sabattani Kuharić Casoria Lebrún Moratinos Bernardin Kitbunchu do Nascimento López Trujillo Danneels Williams Martini Lustiger Glemp Vaivods Meisner de Lubac 1985 Dadaglio Lourdusamy Arinze Fresno Innocenti Obando y Bravo Mayer Suquía Goicoechea Hamer Vidal Gulbinowicz Tzadua Tomko Lubachivsky Deskur Poupard Vachon Decourtray Castillo Lara Wetter Piovanelli Simonis Gagnon Stickler Law O'Connor Biffi Pavan 1988 Martínez Somalo Silvestrini Felici Grégoire Padiyara Freire Falcão Giordano dos Santos Canestri Javierre Ortas Pimenta Revollo Bravo Clancy Moreira Neves Hickey Szoka Paskai Tumi Groër Martin Hensbach Sladkevičius Margéot Wu 1991 Sodano Todea Laghi Cassidy Coffy Etsou-Nzabi-Bamungwabi López Rodríguez Sanchez Noè Quarracino Angelini Mahony Posadas Ocampo Bevilacqua Saldarini Daly Ruini Korec Schwery Sterzinsky del Mestri Dezza 1994 Sfeir Vlk Poggi Shirayanagi Fagiolo Furno Oviedo Cavada Winning Suárez Rivera Ortega y Calamino Darmaatmadja Schotte Eyt Agustoni Wamala Keeler Vargas Alzamora Turcotte Carles Gordó Maida Puljić Razafindratandra Tụng Sandoval Íñiguez Echeverría Ruiz Świątek Tonini Koliqi Congar Grillmeier 1998 Medina Estévez Bovone Castrillón Hoyos Antonelli Stafford De Giorgi Fernandes de Araújo Rouco Varela Ambrozic Balland Tettamanzi Pengo Schönborn Rivera Carrera George Shan Kuo-hsi Kozłowiecki Cheli Colasuonno Monduzzi Jaworski Pujats 2001 Re Thuận Cacciavillan Sebastiani Grocholewski Saraiva Martins Sepe Mejía Daoud Pompedda Kasper Degenhardt González Zumárraga Dias Majella Agnelo Rubiano Sáenz McCarrick Connell Bačkis Errázuriz Ossa Terrazas Sandoval Napier Rodríguez Maradiaga Agré Billé Velasco Cipriani Thorne Álvarez Martínez Hummes Vithayathil Bergoglio Policarpo Poletto Murphy-O'Connor Egan Huzar Lehmann Ghattas Honoré Tucci Scheffczyk Dulles 2003 Tauran Martino Marchisano Herranz Casado Lozano Barragán Hamao Nicora Scola Okogie Panafieu Zubeir Wako Amigo Vallejo Rigali O'Brien Scheid Antonelli Bertone Turkson Toppo Pell Bozanić Mẫn Quezada Toruño Barbarin Erdő Ouellet Cottier Joos Špidlík Nagy Catholic Church portal

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Michael Michai Kitbunchu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Michai_Kitbunchu) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Michai_Kitbunchu?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.