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Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom-Penh

de Phnom-Penh

The Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh is a Latin-rite missionary jurisdiction covering southern Cambodia, erected as the Vicariate Apostolic of Cambodia on 30 August 1850 and renamed for Phnom Penh in 1924. Saint Joseph parish church in Phnom Penh serves as its principal church, with about 12,000 Catholics in 10 parishes (2022). Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, M.E.P., has been apostolic vicar since 1 October 2010, with Pierre Suon Hangly appointed coadjutor in 2025.

The see

Rank
Apostolic vicariate
Tradition
Latin Church
Erected
3 December 1924
Latin
de Phnom-Penh
Annuario code
001000435

The see in figures

Catholics
12,000
Population
6,400,000
Catholic shareof the people living within its bounds
0.2%
Priests
4
Catholics per priest
3,000
Extent
32,063 km²
Catholics per km²
0.4

Figures as recorded in the register, from the Annuario Pontificio and the see's own published statements. Shares and ratios are computed from the two figures shown beside them.

The bishop

Vicar Apostolic
Olivier Schmitthaeusler, M.E.P.

A see whose chair stands empty is recorded as vacant rather than filled with a guess. On what a bishop is, see the bishop.

The cathedral

Saint Joseph Church, Phnom Penh stands in Phnom-Penh, the church that holds the cathedra from which this see takes its name.

On what a cathedral is, see the cathedral; every see church on earth is gathered at the cathedrals.

History

Southern Cambodia, including Phnom Penh and other main urban areas such as Kep, Sihanoukville, Kandal, Takéo, Kampot, Kampong Speu and Koh Kong provinces, belongs to the Apostolic Vicariate of Phnom Penh (Khmer: សាវកជំនួសរាជធានីភ្នំពេញ), a territorial subdivision of the Catholic Church in Cambodia immediately subject to the Holy See. Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler M.E.P. has presided over it since 10 October 2010. The vicariate covers 32,063 km2 (12,380 sq mi); as of 2002, of the 4.4 million people living within its bounds, 13,250 were Catholics. It is organized into 7 pastoral centers served by 26 priests.

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Sources

The see's own website · Wikipedia

Compiled from the published statements of the see and the references of the Holy See, among them the Annuario Pontificio. Corrections: hello@catholicintelligence.com.