ASIA/CAMBODIA -info

Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the occasion of a visit by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, here is some information on Cambodia.

area: 181.000 sq km
population: 12.400.000
Capital: Phnom Penh
language: Khmer (official) - French
currency: Riel
ethnic groups: Khmer 90% - Vietnamese 5% - Chinese 3% - other 2%
Religion: Buddhism 84,7%, traditional Chinese religious 4,7%, Animism 4,4%; Islam 2,3%, Christianity 1,1%, others 2,8%.
Culture: The 10th century imperial city of Angkor of great historical importance, enjoyed its greatest splendour under King Suryavarman who built the 5 towers of a gigantic Angkor Wat Temple 65 metres high. Today, Angkor’s temples are the main tourist attraction in Cambodia. They are what remains of about 70 temples which were part of a large centre of administration and religious activity. Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century and its temples were gradually swallowed up by the jungle.
Catholic Church
History
The development of the Catholic mission started in 1554 with a visit by Jesuit Father Fernandez Mendez Pinto. The first Christian communities were founded in the 17th century by Jesuits, Dominicans and Franciscans. In the mid 18th century the Catechism was translated into Khmer by missionaries of the Paris Foreign Missions (MEP). In 1850 the Church opened the Apostolic Prefecture of Cambodia. In 1924 it was raised to the rank of apostolic vicariate and in 1955 it coincided with the borders of the country. The first Cambodian priest was ordained in 1957. In 1975 all missionaries were expelled, including French missionaries, and as the years passed, the activity of the Church in Cambodia came gradually to a standstill. In 1989 Bishop Yves Ramousse was allowed to return to the country. In 1990 Christians of all denominations are recognised.
Today Catholics 15,000; Dioceses 3 ; bishops 2 ; diocesan priests 8; religious priests 32; Brothers 5; women religious 69 ; lay missionaries 15; catechists 189 ; major seminarians 10.
(Agenzia Fides 1/12/2004)Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the occasion of a visit by Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, here is some information on Cambodia.

area: 181.000 sq km
population: 12.400.000
Capital: Phnom Penh
language: Khmer (official) - French
currency: Riel
ethnic groups: Khmer 90% - Vietnamese 5% - Chinese 3% - other 2%
Religion: Buddhism 84,7%, traditional Chinese religious 4,7%, Animism 4,4%; Islam 2,3%, Christianity 1,1%, others 2,8%.
Culture: The 10th century imperial city of Angkor of great historical importance, enjoyed its greatest splendour under King Suryavarman who built the 5 towers of a gigantic Angkor Wat Temple 65 metres high. Today, Angkor’s temples are the main tourist attraction in Cambodia. They are what remains of about 70 temples which were part of a large centre of administration and religious activity. Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century and its temples were gradually swallowed up by the jungle.
Catholic Church
History
The development of the Catholic mission started in 1554 with a visit by Jesuit Father Fernandez Mendez Pinto. The first Christian communities were founded in the 17th century by Jesuits, Dominicans and Franciscans. In the mid 18th century the Catechism was translated into Khmer by missionaries of the Paris Foreign Missions (MEP). In 1850 the Church opened the Apostolic Prefecture of Cambodia. In 1924 it was raised to the rank of apostolic vicariate and in 1955 it coincided with the borders of the country. The first Cambodian priest was ordained in 1957. In 1975 all missionaries were expelled, including French missionaries, and as the years passed, the activity of the Church in Cambodia came gradually to a standstill. In 1989 Bishop Yves Ramousse was allowed to return to the country. In 1990 Christians of all denominations are recognised.
Today Catholics 15,000; Dioceses 3 ; bishops 2 ; diocesan priests 8; religious priests 32; Brothers 5; women religious 69 ; lay missionaries 15; catechists 189 ; major seminarians 10.
(Agenzia Fides 1/12/2004)