Rev. Paul Trairong Multree has been appointed by Pope Francis as the new bishop of the Suratthani Diocese in Thailand, succeeding Bishop Joseph Prathan Sridarunsil following his resignation.
The announcement was made by the Vatican on July 8. Bishop Sridarunsil, the 78-year-old chairperson of the Social Communication Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand, has reached the retirement age for bishops as stipulated by Canon Law.
Born on September 7, 1976, in Khon Kaen, Thailand, Father Multree is the youngest of eight siblings. He has served the Church in various roles, including as parish priest of Saint Mark and superior of the Thai Missionary Society. He is also the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Father Multree studied philosophy at the Lux Mundi Major Seminary in Samphran and was ordained a priest on June 9, 2007, for the Ratchaburi Diocese.
His early pastoral assignments included serving as parish vicar at Our Lady of Lourdes in Kanchanaburi and Saint Michael the Archangel in Ratchaburi. He also spent several years as a missionary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Continuing his education in Italy, Father Multree earned a licentiate in pastoral liturgy from the Institute of Pastoral Liturgy in Padua.
Upon returning to Thailand, he took on leadership roles as the rector of the major seminary of the Thai Missionary Society in Samphran since 2019 and as the national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 2020.
Father Multree’s appointment comes at a time when the Surat Thani Diocese is looking toward new growth and revitalization. His consecration as bishop is scheduled for the coming months, and it is anticipated that his leadership will continue to inspire and uphold the values of the Church in Thailand.
Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand, has encouraged the Catholic faithful to pray for the bishop-elect and those under his pastoral care.
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