A delegation from the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (CELAC) was received in audience by Pope Leo XIVA delegation from the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (CELAC) was received in audience by Pope Leo XIV on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 9:30 AM Rome time.
The meeting took place in the private library of the Apostolic Palace during the delegation's official ad Limina Apostolorum visit to the Vatican. Led by CELAC President Msgr. Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzales, SJ, and including bishops such as Olivier Schmitthaeusler (Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh), the group engaged in several critical pastoral and historical actions during their time in Rome:
Presentation of the Martyr Dossier: The most historic moment occurred when the bishops presented a massive 2,500-page dossier to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. This documentation advances the beatification and canonization cause of Bishop Joseph Salas and 11 companion martyrs who were murdered for their faith between 1970 and 1977 under Pol Pot's brutal Khmer Rouge regime.
A delegation from the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (CELAC) was received in audience by Pope Leo XIVA delegation from the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (CELAC) was received in audience by Pope Leo XIV on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 9:30 AM Rome time.The meeting took place in the private library of the Apostolic Palace during the delegation's official ad Limina Apostolorum visit to the Vatican. Led by CELAC President Msgr. Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzales, SJ, and including bishops such as Olivier Schmitthaeusler (Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh), the group engaged in several critical pastoral and historical actions during their time in Rome:Presentation of the Martyr Dossier: The most historic moment occurred when the bishops presented a massive 2,500-page dossier to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. This documentation advances the beatification and canonization cause of Bishop Joseph Salas and 11 companion martyrs who were murdered for their faith between 1970 and 1977 under Pol Pot's brutal Khmer Rouge regime.Synodal Process Discussions: The delegation met with Vatican officials, including Cardinal Mario Grech, to discuss the implementation of the synodal journey in their local regions, highlighting how small minority Catholic communities are navigating mission work and communal aid.
Liturgical and Local Challenges: The bishops reported on the socio-cultural realities of Laos and Cambodia. They focused on the challenges of widespread poverty following historical conflicts, the difficulties of geographical isolation on missionary work, and the complex process of translating the Bible and liturgical texts into local and minority ethnic languages.
The biographies or history of the Cambodian martyrs submitted for beatificationThe current organizational structure and leadership of the Catholic Church in Laos and CambodiaThe significance and traditional requirements of an ad Limina visit
