Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop John Bosco Panya Kritcharoen from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Ratchaburi, and appointed Bishop Silvio Siripong Charatsri of Chanthaburi as his successor.
Panya Kritcharoen was appointed bishop of Ratchabuti by Pope John Paul II on March 18, 2005, and consecrated on May 28 by Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu.
The prelate will turn 74 this year. The age when canon law requires bishops to submit their resignation to the pope is 75.
He was born in Bangtan-Banpong, Ratchaburi province, he studied in Thailand and the United States. He was ordained as priest on May 22, 1976, in Ratchaburi.
Charatsri, who will replace Panya Kritcharoen, was appointed as the fourth Bishop of Chanthaburi by Pope Benedict XVI on April 4, 2009.
He was born on Dec. 10, 1959, in Ban Nok Kwaek in the Diocese of Ratchaburi. He studied at the Diocesan Minor Seminary. He then attended the National Major Seminary “Lux Mundi” in Bangkok. He was ordained a priest on May 19, 1987, for the Diocese of Ratchaburi.
Bishop Charatsri has since ministered as follows:
- 1987-1988 pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Watplunh, Ratchaburi
- 1989-1991 vice-rector of the Ratchaburi Diocesan Minor Seminary
- 1991-1992 Diploma in Pastoral Studies in Manila (EAPI)
- 1992-1995 rector of the Ratchaburi Diocesan Minor Seminary
- 1996-1998 pastor of Saint John Bosco Church, Ratchaburi
- 1998-2000 studies for a Licentiate in Theology at the Angelicum in Rome
- 2001-2005: vice-rector of the “Lux Mundi” Major Seminary
- 2006 vicar general of Ratchaburi, rector of the Diocesan School in Ratchaburi, and pastor of Saint John Bosco Church.
