ASIA/CAMBODIA - Catholics appeal to the United Nations: "Stop the massacre of innocents in Gaza"

Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) - "We, bishops, priests, men and women religious, and the faithful in Cambodia, ask the United Nations to intervene urgently to end the violence and bloodshed in the Gaza Strip, so that peace can prevail and people can live in dignity, with respect for human rights, in mutual love, and in tranquility," reads an appeal released by the Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, on behalf of the Catholic community in Cambodia. The appeal is also joined by the Apostolic Prefects of Battambang and Kompong Cham, Bishop Enrique Figaredo and Bishop Pierre Hangly, who issue an "urgent appeal" for an end to the violence in the Strip. The appeal of the bishops, which Fides has received, was preceded by an interreligious event in which representatives of the Catholic community in Cambodia participated together with delegates from the Buddhist communities: the international symposium on the theme "Buddhists and Christians working together for peace through reconciliation and resilience" (see Fides, 27/5/2025).
"This dialogue," the bishops stated, "has demonstrated religious harmony in Cambodia as an exemplary model that we can proudly present to the world." Referring to the International Day for the Rights of the Child, the bishops expressed concern about the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip: "We cannot remain silent. How can we join together in the search for peace while the war continues, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people, especially children and infants?" they asked. The message recalls the "Massacre of the Innocents," which Herod ordered according to the account in the Gospel of Matthew, and states: "Tragically and painfully, in 2025, we see history repeating itself in Gaza. Since 2023, approximately 18,000 children and infants have lost their lives in this war. Many families have lost fathers, mothers, and children; their homes have been destroyed by shelling." Furthermore, "there is no access to education; people suffer from a lack of medical care, disabilities, and food shortages. Images of children, grandparents, and thousands of dying parents are shared daily on social media, causing great pain and sorrow for all of us," the document states. In the face of so much violence, "the Catholic community in Cambodia thanks God for granting Cambodia religious harmony and guiding us to live in peace. But we cannot remain indifferent when we see how children and thousands of people suffer, how the injured and disabled die every day." It continues: "We remember the year 1975, when the Khmer Rouge seized control of Phnom Penh and sealed Cambodia off from the world for three years, eight months, and 20 days. During this time, the international community remained silent and allowed more than 20% of the Cambodian population—approximately 2 million people—to die of starvation and mass murder. Under this regime, people were physically and psychologically tortured, separated from their families, and lived without family ties, in mutual distrust, and in extreme fear." Back then, the bishops note, "there were no social media platforms like today. But today we have this social media, which allows us to witness the tragedy in Gaza every day. We must pray to God that peace will prevail." "The Catholic community in Cambodia launches an urgent appeal, asking the United Nations to use all means to immediately end the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip" so that "more children and innocent people do not die, suffer pain, live in fear, become homeless, or suffer hunger because of this ongoing and bloody war." (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 10/6/2025)

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