Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Francis Than Htun, until now parish priest of Saint John’s Catholic Church, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Yangon, Myanmar, assigning him the titular see of Strongoli.
Msgr. Francis Than Htun was born on 14 March 1974 in Nyaung Oo, in the archdiocese of Mandalay. He attended the Saint John Minor Seminary in Bago, studied philosophy in the Saint Joseph Minor Seminary in Pyin Oo Lwin, and then theology in the Saint Joseph Major Seminary in Yangon, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in philosophy at the University of Yangon. He was ordained a priest on 19 March 2002 for the archdiocese of Yangon.
After ordination, he first held the roles of parish vicar of Saint Joseph’s in Thingangyun, Yangon, and of Saint Michael’s Catholic Church, Gyobingauk (2002-2003). He studied for a diploma in human development in the Philippines (2003) and went on to serve as parish vicar of Saint John, Cantonment (2003-2004), parish vicar of Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Yangon (2004-2005), and director of Karuna Myanmar Social Service (Caritas) (2005-2011), followed by higher studies in clinical pastoral education and missionary experience in the United States of America (2011-2021). Since 2021 he has been parish priest of Saint John’s parish, Cantonment, Yangon. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 26/3/2024)
