PHNOM PENH (RVA News): About 300 pilgrims joined the 15th Catholic Youth Pilgrimage in Battambang Province, Cambodia, roughly 300 kilometres west of Phnom Penh, from February 27 to March 1.
The vicariate’s Office for Children, Adolescents, and Youth organised the three-day event, themed “Youth and Reconciliation for Peacebuilding.”
One of the key moments during the event was a 20-kilometre walking journey on February 28 from Thmor Koul District to Mary Mother of God Parish [Tumpung]. This symbolic act of unity and perseverance brought participants together and set the tone for the next sessions.
Sun Saruon, head of the organising office, said the annual pilgrimage helps young people understand reconciliation and peacebuilding within their hearts, families, and communities.
“This pilgrimage calls youth to actively build peace in the Church and society,” he said, noting that mutual support during the demanding trek visibly showed solidarity and growth. He also urged personal development and the avoidance of social vices such as gambling and drugs.
Teachings on peace and virtue
There were two catechetical sessions led by Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler, apostolic vicar of Phnom Penh.
In the first session, focused on inner peace and reconciliation, the bishop reminded the youth that peace begins with a relationship with God. “Peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of harmony and a life of relationships filled with the joy of God,” he said. He encouraged them to become “ambassadors of reconciliation” and “ambassadors of peace” in their communities.
In the second session, delivered after part of the walking journey and a lunch break, he reflected on virtues vital for peacebuilding.
The bishop emphasised compassion and love as core Christian values, reminding youth that God is love and that forgiveness must guide their relationships. He urged humility and service, presenting the Virgin Mary as a model of gentleness and peace, and called for purity of mind, warning against hatred and division.
“Hate is not the path to building peace,” he said. “As Christians, we build peace through prayer, forgiveness, and reconciliation.”
Hate is not the path to building peace. As Christians, we build peace through prayer, forgiveness, and reconciliation
Bishop Olivier Schmitthaeusler
Youth reflections
Participants shared how the pilgrimage deepened their understanding of forgiveness and solidarity.
Yat Kanha, from the Chamlak community in Tboung Khmum Province, admitted that she had previously struggled to forgive others and often held grudges. She said the programme helped her realise that peace must begin within the individual, adding that she hopes to share these lessons with other youth in her parish.
Salesian Brother Eng Sarong described the walk as a reflection of life’s journey. Despite fatigue and physical pain, he said, the young pilgrims encouraged one another with love. “Catholics will always encounter obstacles, but we must walk with God at all times,” he said.
The pilgrimage concluded with bishops from Cambodia’s three jurisdictions, along with priests, religious brothers, and sisters. This closing gathering showed young Catholics’ renewed commitment to foster reconciliation and peace in their communities and highlighted the event’s lasting impact.
