Cambodian Christ the King Cathedral: Systematically and completely destroyed by Khmer Rouge

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications now occupies the site of the cathedral destroyed by the Khmer Rouge, a poignant reminder of the nation’s turbulent past and enduring faith.

During the tumultuous years of the Cambodian War (1967-1975), a French Gothic cathedral stood as a silent witness to the conflict between the Khmer Rouge and the Kingdom of Cambodia.

In 1972, two rockets launched by the Khmer Rouge struck this historic cathedral, causing only minor damage.

However, in 1974, another rocket inflicted more significant harm on the church’s refectory.

This cathedral, completed in 1927, was constructed during a period when Cambodia was a French protectorate.

Its construction began shortly after Cambodia fell under French protection in 1863. Built with brick walls and featuring a tall, massive arch with a large Celtic cross pattern on its facade, the cathedral also had a sandstone statue of Mary over its portal. The site included the bishop’s palace and a library.

As the civil war raged, Cambodia found itself entangled in a broader geopolitical struggle. North Vietnam backed the Khmer Rouge, while South Vietnam and the United States supported the Kingdom of Cambodia under King Norodom Sihanouk.

In 1970, massive protests in Phnom Penh against North Vietnam's presence led to the installation of the pro-American Khmer Republic, which demanded the withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops.

Instead of complying, North Vietnam invaded Cambodia, aiding the Khmer Rouge in their eventual seizure of power in 1975.

Upon capturing Phnom Penh, the Khmer Rouge, led by Pol Pot, began systematically eradicating symbols of capitalism, religion, and colonialism.

The cathedral, embodying all three, was the first structure they demolished.

Among the more than 70 Catholic churches destroyed by the Khmer Rouge in their first year of rule, only the cathedral’s bells survived. These bells are now displayed at the National Museum of Cambodia.

The Khmer Rouge’s rule resulted in a genocide that claimed nearly two million lives. They also targeted Buddhist temples, repurposing them and branding monks as parasites.

However, in 1979, the Vietnamese, who initially supported Pol Pot, invaded Cambodia and ousted the Khmer Rouge after cross-border attacks.

Pol Pot and his followers retreated into the jungle, continuing guerrilla warfare.

Pol Pot was captured in 1997 and sentenced to life imprisonment by a people's tribunal, widely criticized as a farce. He died in 1998, declaring, "My conscience is clear."

Today, Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy. In the 1990s, the Catholic Church was reestablished, with a major seminary reopening and the ordination of the first Cambodian priest since the war.

As of 2023, Cambodia lacks a cathedral, but churches are gradually re-emerging. The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications now occupies the site of the cathedral destroyed by the Khmer Rouge, a poignant reminder of the nation’s turbulent past and enduring faith.