Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the occasion Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe’s pastoral visit to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, here is some information on Laos.

area: 237.000 sq. km
population: 5.600,000
Capital: Vientiane
Other cities: Luang Prabang, Pakse, Savannakhet
Languages: Lao (official), French, Thai, Môn, Lao Thung are also spoken
currency: new Kip
Religion Buddhism 48.8%, Animist 41.7%, Christianity 2.1%, others 7.4%
Culture: Laotians have the same forefathers as many Thai tribes and they are similarities in the Thai and Laotian culture as it can be seen by sculpture, music, danced-drama and cuisine. The main element of Laotian music is the Khaen, a double string wind instrument made of bamboo cane and hard wood. Traditional art created religious works, temples and statues of Buddha. In 1995 UNESCO declared the city of Luang Prabang Patrimony of Humanity. One of the most interesting sites is the mysterious Plane of Jars, a vast natural plane near Phonsavan, in the Xieng Khuang province strewn with enormous jars of hard stone of unknown origin.
Catholic Church
Development
Missionaries had first contact with the region in the 17th century. For the next two centuries the country was “closed kingdom” for foreigners until the Fathers of the Parish Foreign Missions (MEP) in Siam resumed contact. The Apostolic Vicariate of Laos was established in 1899 with almost 10,000 baptised Catholics. Other attempts at evangelisation started from Cambodia. Christian communities were formed in the west of the country. French Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate OMI arrived in 1935 led by Father E. Mazoyer, appointed first apostolic prefect of north Laos in 1938. At the end of the 1950s they were joined by OMI from Italy while the local clergy was growing fast. In 1973 there were about 45,000 Catholics in Laos. In 1973 the supreme Buddhist Patriarch of Laos came to Rome to meet Pope Paul VI. In 1975, when socialists took power foreign missionaries were expelled. Many local priests were imprisoned or sent to labour camps for re-education. There have been signs of religious opening since 1991: all the priests have been released, there is more freedom of worship, the government has given building permission for a few churches.
Today Catholics 40,000 Dioceses 4; bishops 3; diocesan priests 13; Sisters 76; catechists 301; major seminarians 16