Holy Father Pope Francis appointed Father Joseph Nguyen Duc Cuong as the new Bishop of Thanh Hoa in Vietnam’s North Central Coast region. The seat of Thanh Hoa has been vacant since October 29, 2016, after His Holiness Pope Francis transferred His Grace Bishop Joseph Nguyên Chi Linh to Hue as Archbishop.
Fr. Cuong was born on October 14, 1953, in Quang Truong, Diocese of Thanh Hoa. He attended the Simon Hoa Minor Seminary of Da Lat and later studied at the Major Seminary there. He continued his study at the Pontifical College of St. Pius X also in Da Lat.
After his priestly formation at the Major Seminary of St. Joseph of Saigon, he proceeded to Manila in the Philippines 2012, where he attended a course in leadership at the East Asian Pastoral Institute. He was ordained priest on June 27, 1992, for Da Lat Diocese.
