How Christianity consolidated royalist, Buddhist “Thainess”
For most Thais, Pope Francis’ recent visit on 20–23 November 2019 probably passed unnoticed as little more than a footnote in the kingdom’s history. The second papal trip to the majority Buddhist country, after John Paul II’s visit in 1984, has already become a faded memory as Bangkok’s luxury malls ready themselves to stage yet another sparkling Christmas. All around Siam Square and Ratchaprasong district, giant department stores dazzle with colourful Christmas decorations that flank Hindu shrines, spirit houses, Thai flags and gold-framed portraits of Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn. Bangkok’s Christmas fever has become so intense that 852 Thai schoolchildren broke the...
