Cambodia: Second Cambodian Priest Ordained as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh

 In a historic moment for Cambodia’s Catholic community, Msgr. Pierre Suon Hang Ly was ordained as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Phnom Penh on Sept 6,  becoming the second Cambodian priest to hold the position.

 The ordination, attended by more than 3,500 Catholics, was presided over by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler and graced by the presence of senior clergy from across Asia, including the Apostolic Nuncio to Cambodia and Thailand, Archbishop Peter Bryan Wells, several venerable monks, as well as representatives from Cambodia’s Islamic and Protestant communities.

 Appointed by Pope Leo XIV on June 28, 2025, Msgr. Suon follows in the footsteps of Bishop Joseph Chhmar Salas, the only other Cambodian to have been named Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic, in 1975.

 The Catholic Church in Cambodia, together with the Khmer people, suffered greatly during the Pol Pot regime, which marked the so-called “Year Zero.” Every structure of the Church was destroyed, and even the Khmer bishop, religious, and faithful were killed.

 “This ordination is a sign of the maturity of the local Church and a strong signal for rooting the small Catholic Church even more deeply in society, culture, and the lives of the people,” Bishop Schmitthaeusler said.

 He continued that “Hangly will work with me to further care for our communities from the bottom of the heart… like the Virgin Mary, accepting this mission in the service of the People of God.”

 In his address, the new bishop expressed deep gratitude to God, the Pope, his fellow clergy, and the Catholic faithful.

 “I pledge to carry out this mission with obedience, unity, and a spirit of generosity,” bishop Pierre Hangly Suon said, “Together, we will walk in the light of the Gospel, sharing Christ’s mission with joy, faith, and unity.”

 Born on April 15, 1971, in Pho Thom , the home village of Bishop Salas, Bishop Suon was ordained a priest in 2001. He served in Kampot and Takeo, pursued studies at the Catholic Institute of Paris, and returned to Cambodia to lead parishes in Phnom Penh Thmey before being appointed Apostolic Prefect of Kompong Cham in 2022.

 Ang Sangwat, a nun from the Lovers of the Holy Cross of Cambodia serving in the Apostolic Prefecture of Kampong Cham, stated that she was delighted that “we now begin to have a Cambodian bishop who bears responsibility within the Cambodian Catholic community.”

 However, she also expressed a sense of sadness, as Bishop Suon will soon return to reside in Phnom Penh, and they will once again have to await the appointment of a new Apostolic Prefect.

  “I hope that the future of the Catholic community in Cambodia will be able to stand on its own foundation and continue to grow and flourish”. She added that, “I also hope that Bishop Pierre Hangly  Suon will become a bishop who engages with and maintains close relations with the faithful with ease and openness”.

 The Catholic Church in Cambodia, which reestablished its presence in 1990 after years of absence, sees the appointment of bishop Suon as a milestone in its mission. As Bishop Schmitthaeusler concluded, “From a fisherman on the Mekong’s river, the Lord has called you to be a fisher of souls. Our Lady of the Mekong, Queen of Peace, will guide you in our shared mission.”

During the ceremony, the Apostolic Nuncio to Cambodia addressed the faithful, encouraging them in a special way to unite in prayer and support for Bishop Hangly Suon and Bishop Olivier Schmittaeusler, working together to build a Church that bears true witness to Christ’s love.

“Together, we can continue to overcome the shadows of the past with faith, hope, and charity,” he said.

Turning to Bishop Suon, he added, “On behalf of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, the Holy See, the staff of the Apostolic Nunciature, and the universal Church, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and assure you of my prayers for your ministry. May Our Lady of the Mekong intercede for you, and may the Holy Spirit guide you always.”

Although Bishop Pierre Hangly Suon has completed his term as Apostolic Prefect of Kampong Cham, he will continue to serve as administrator of the prefecture until the Holy Father appoints a new Apostolic Prefect, the nuncio announced.

Cambodia is a predominantly Buddhist country, with approximately 95% of the population practising Buddhism, 3% practising Islam, and Christians, of whom Catholics number about 20,000, making up roughly 1% of the population. At present, the Catholic Church in Cambodia comprises three jurisdictions: the Vicariate of Phnom Penh, the Prefecture of Battambang, and the Prefecture of Kampong Cham, encompassing more than 100 parishes and communities.

At present, the Catholic Church in Cambodia has 15 local priests, one bishop, and nearly 20 religious sisters, serving alongside foreign missionaries from various countries.