On December 21, 2025, around 2,300 children gathered for a joyful Christmas celebration at St. Mary of the Smile Parish in Takeo Province, southern Cambodia. The event was held under the leadership of Bishop Olivier Schmittaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh. Most of the participating children came from villages surrounding
[BATTAMBANG] – In a spirit of compassion and peace, on the night of December 18 and the morning of December 19, 2025, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, accompanied by seven Buddhist abbots from Tram Kak District, Takeo Province, visited and provided relief aid to displaced families currently
In a spirit of humanitarianism and national solidarity, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, contributed 2,000 USD to the Wat Ounalom Fund in Phnom Penh capital on December 16, 2025. The donation is intended for purchasing food and essential supplies for Cambodian refugees currently facing severe hardships due
In the context of the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, Bishop Olivier urged the faithful to pray and to continue works of charity. He said, “As Catholics, we have a power, and that power is prayer—prayer for peace to come, not tomorrow, not the day after, but today.” He invited
In this meaningful meeting, the two religious leaders held a cordial and mutually understanding discussion, focusing primarily on the core theme of working together for peace. They also discussed ways to continue encouraging the faithful of both religions (Buddhism and Catholicism) to awaken their spirit of unity within the ethos
On December 13, Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Vicariate issued an appeal for fundraising to support schools located in high-risk areas and to assist Cambodian people who have been displaced due to the war along the Cambodia–Thailand border. In a letter signed by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, the
Catholic Church leaders in Cambodia issued a solemn appeal on December 12 for an immediate ceasefire following renewed hostilities along the Thai-Cambodian border. Expressing “deep sorrow and sadness,” the bishops called on national leaders to halt violence and return to diplomatic dialogue. The appeal, released on the Feast of Our
In a message published on his personal social media account on December 11, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, urged all parishes in his jurisdiction to organize Masses and prayer services for peace, following the renewed conflict along the Cambodia–Thailand border. The Bishop emphasized that, in this
On December 6, the religious (priests, brothers, and sisters) currently serving the Catholic Church in Cambodia, totaling approximately 100 individuals, made a joint pilgrimage in the context of the Jubilee year. The pilgrimage was guided by Bishop Olivier, starting at the Phnom Penh Diocese Pastoral Center and concluding at the
On Sunday, November 23, Bishop Olivier visited and warmly celebrated Mass at the St. Joseph Sen Sok Church on the occasion of the Feast of Christ the King of the Universe.In his homily, Bishop Olivier recalled that Jesus is a King unlike those of the world. Jesus is not a
