Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, was awarded the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia in recognition of his decades of service to the Cambodian people, particularly through education, social development and interreligious cooperation.
The honor was presented during the inauguration of new facilities at Ang Montrey Pagoda on June 25 in Pong Tuek Khang Tboung village, about 90 kilometers southeast of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh.
The ceremony was presided over by Tuon Siphann, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and head of the Royal Government Working Group for Tramkok District. It brought together Buddhist monks, government officials, local authorities, students, community members, and Catholic and Buddhist faithful.
The event also marked the opening of a new residence for the abbot of Ang Montrey Pagoda, next to the “Chomroen Olivier” Buddhist Primary School, a project supported by the Catholic Church since 2023.
The recognition of Bishop Olivier highlighted his long-standing commitment to strengthening friendship between Cambodia’s Buddhist and Catholic communities.
Education as a path to peace
The “Chomroen Olivier” Buddhist Primary School currently educates about 40 young monks, combining traditional studies such as Pali and Sanskrit with modern subjects including mathematics and computer science.
The partnership between Ang Montrey Pagoda and the Catholic Church has also expanded beyond the school. Buddhist and Catholic leaders regularly gather with around 500 students of Saint Francis School for joint educational programs featuring both Buddhist and Catholic perspectives.
The pagoda also hosted international participants during the 8th Colloquium on Buddhism and Christianity, organized by the Holy See and Cambodia’s Supreme Patriarchate, creating a platform for theological dialogue and shared reflection.
Decades of service and interreligious friendship
Reflecting on his mission in Cambodia, Bishop Olivier recalled arriving in the country as a young missionary in 2002. One of the first joint projects between the Catholic community and Ang Montrey Pagoda was the construction of a 2,200-meter red dirt road connecting the pagoda and the Church.
He described the road as a symbol of a friendship that has grown over more than two decades.
That relationship has developed into practical cooperation through social initiatives, including sharing blessings with poor families during Christmas, Pchum Ben and Khmer New Year celebrations.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catholic and Buddhist volunteers worked together to support people in quarantine centers, while a greenhouse project at the pagoda helped provide fresh food for monks.
When tensions erupted along the Cambodia-Thailand border, Bishop Olivier joined seven abbots from the Tramkok region in bringing humanitarian assistance to displaced families sheltering in pagodas in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces in northwestern Cambodia.
Recognition of a lifetime of service
Venerable Nget Chomroeun, Abbot of Ang Montrey Pagoda, who also received the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia, expressed gratitude for Bishop Olivier’s commitment to the community.
He praised the bishop’s personal dedication and support for projects at the pagoda, including the Buddhist primary school, teachers’ salaries, daily provisions for monks and various infrastructure improvements.
“The various achievements that have arisen in this pagoda, such as the Buddha statue and the construction of the abbot’s residence, a major portion came from the funds of Bishop Olivier,” the abbot said.
Over the years, Bishop Olivier has received several national honors for his contribution to Cambodian society, including the Medal of National Merit, the Royal Order of Cambodia Grand Cross, the Royal Order of Sahametrei Grand Cross, the Royal Order of Monisaraphon Grand Cross, the Royal Order of Monisaraphon Commander, and the Medal of National Construction Gold.
He was also granted Cambodian citizenship through a royal decree by the King of Cambodia.
Accepting the award, Bishop Olivier said the recognition was an encouragement to continue building bridges among communities.
Referring to Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, he emphasized that building a “civilization of love” requires turning compassion into concrete actions that promote justice and human dignity.
“Together, Buddhists and Catholics, let us continue to be artisans of peace,” Bishop Olivier said. “It is work that requires patience: war makes noise, while peace is silent. Yet it is peace, and peace alone, that will allow new generations to flourish and live in tranquility.”
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