The highest Buddhist authorities in Cambodia have awarded the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, one of the highest distinctions granted by Buddhism in the country, in recognition of more than two decades of pastoral work and educational and social cooperation with the Buddhist community.
On June 13, during a ceremony held at Wat Botum Vatey Temple in Phnom Penh, the prelate received the honorary title Akka Mahā Upāsaka Buddha Sāsanūpatthambhakr, which can be translated as “Great lay elder, protector and sustainer of the Buddha’s doctrine.” This recognition is granted to individuals of any religious affiliation who have made an exceptional contribution to the preservation of the Buddhist tradition.
The distinction represents an acknowledgment of the work carried out by the French bishop of the Paris Foreign Missions Society (MEP), who had already been named Maha Upasaka in 2022 for his contribution to educational cooperation and social development alongside the country’s Buddhist majority.
The recognition from the religious authorities came just days before the King of Cambodia conferred upon him the Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Cambodia, one of the highest decorations of the Kingdom, for his contribution to the common good and to coexistence among the different religious communities.
Far from being a merely protocolary gesture, both distinctions recognize a missionary effort sustained for more than twenty years. Bishop Schmitthaeusler arrived in the Chomkartieng region in 2002 as a young missionary and, since then, has promoted numerous projects developed jointly with the Buddhist community.
The first initiative consisted of building a two-kilometer road linking the local pagoda with the Catholic church. “That road became the symbol of our relationship,” the Apostolic Vicar recently recalled.
Since then, the collaboration has expanded to educational, health, and humanitarian projects. Catholics and Buddhists have worked together to assist families in need, visit health centers during the pandemic, and, more recently, send aid to populations affected by border tensions between Cambodia and Thailand.
One of the visible fruits of this cooperation is the «Chomroen Olivier» school, recently inaugurated at Ang Montrey Pagoda in Takeo Province. The center takes its name from the Buddhist abbot Nget Chomroeun and the Catholic bishop himself, reflecting the close collaboration between both communities. With the support of the Catholic Church since 2023, the school offers young Buddhist monks religious formation along with classes in Khmer language, mathematics, and computer science.
During the ceremony for the honorary title, the Buddhist authorities recalled that, although the Cambodian Constitution recognizes Buddhism as the official state religion, it also fully guarantees religious freedom and promotes coexistence among the different faiths present in the country.
In thanking the recognitions received, Bishop Schmitthaeusler emphasized that collaboration between Buddhists and Catholics arises from friendship and service to the common good. “The Catholic Church and Buddhism walk hand in hand for the common good of our people and our country,” he stated. “When religions walk together, the world can behold true peace.”