The Catholic Church in Cambodia held a solemn memorial Mass on April 26 to honor the life and legacy of Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025.
The Mass, celebrated by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, gathered over 1,000 faithful, clergy, and dignitaries from across the country.
“We gather today to give thanks for the life of Pope Francis,” Bishop Olivier said during the homily. “On the day Christ rose from the dead, the Holy Father began his journey to eternal peace with God, whom he served faithfully throughout his life.”
The bishop invited the faithful to reflect on Pope Francis’ call to be “missionaries of compassion, mercy, and joy,” encouraging all to proclaim the Gospel with hope and love. He also emphasized the Pope’s warnings against indifference and tireless appeals for peace in a troubled world.
The two-day memorial event drew representatives from various faiths and institutions and was held from April 24–25, organized by the Vicariate of Phnom Penh.
Attendees included the Minister of Cults and Religion, government officials, foreign diplomats, Buddhist monks, Muslim leaders, Christian pastors, religious congregations, Catholic NGOs, diocesan staff, and parishioners from all three Cambodian jurisdictions.
Bishop Enrique Figaredo, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, highlighted Pope Francis' key messages of brotherhood and encouragement, emphasizing synodality and unity within the Church.
Msgr. Pierre Hangly Suon, Apostolic Prefect of Kampong Cham, echoed the Pope’s enduring legacy of peace, love, hope, and forgiveness.
Pope Francis, the 266th Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church and successor to Pope Benedict XVI, passed away at his residence in Vatican City due to illness.
He was widely known for his pastoral heart, advocacy for the marginalized, and efforts to build bridges across faiths and cultures.
The Vatican has announced that the papal conclave to elect the next pope will take place on May 7. Of the 252 living cardinals, 135 are under the age of 80 and eligible to vote.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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