Olivier Schmitthaeusler

Olivier Schmitthaeusler (born 26 June 1970) is the current Apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh since 10 October 2010.

Biography Olivier was born in Strasbourg in 1970 as the eldest child of a big family. His father is a permanent deacon in the diocese of Strasbourg. He entered in 1989 in the major seminary of Strasbourg where he studied philosophy and theology. Between 1991 and 1994 he was cooperant in Japan for his civil service. Back to France he was ordained a priest for the Paris Foreign Missions Society on 28 June 1998 in the Strasbourg Cathedral.

He was sent as a missionary in Cambodia where he first studied Khmer language for three years between 1998 and 2001. He was finally named parish priest in the small parish of Chomkarcheang in Takéo Province.

Episcopal career

The day before Christmas 2009, he was named coadjutor vicar of Phnom Penh in order to replace bishop Émile Destombes, who was about to resign for age reasons. He succeeded him on 10 October 2010 after being ordained bishop on 20 March 2010. At that time he was the youngest French bishop and one of the youngest bishops in the world.

Honours