Testimony of Msgr. Antonysamy Susairaj, MEP, Apostolic Prefect Kompong Cham

Posted: 5th April 2005

Msgr.Antonysami Susairaj, MEP

Phnom Penh--
As I think about His Holiness, John Paul II, I remember my last occasion I had to meet him. It was in 1999. I went with the Laotian-Cambodia Episcopal conference for the “Ad Limina’s visit”. We had the opportunity to eat with the Pope the first day. The second day we celebrated the Mass with him. We met all together with His Holiness the third. During the visit each of us met with the Pope, separately, for 25 minutes.

Trying to take advantage of my 25-minute meeting with him, I had prepared a photo album of Kompong Cham Prefecture illustrating pastoral activities of the Prefecture, means of transportation, the road conditions, people whom we are serving, religious ceremonies, etc. I also had a map of Cambodia and some other graphics to illustrate my report. My idea was not to speak too much, considering the pope’s age and sickness. I didn’t want to bother him too much. When we met he seemed tired. He was bending forward. I could see that he didn’t have a lot of energy to stand on his own; he was holding on the table, trying to support himself. I was very impressed because he was the same pope I met in 1980 when I was a student in Rome. In that time he was like an athlete. He shook hands with me with so much force and looking into my eyes with so much energy. That kind of physically strong and deep smile of that time, compared with this one, was a kind of shock for me, seeing him so weak 18 years later.

Just starting our interview he asked me: So, you are coming from India, how come are you in Cambodia? I wanted to avoid the topic in order not to loose the precious 25 minutes given to me and I was eager to present to the pope the photo album and graphics I had prepared about K. Cham Prefecture, rather than to talk about myself and about India. I told him: Would you please allow me first to present to you what I have prepared and then I will answer your questions? Smiling he said, “Yes, please, go on, do what you have prepared”. So I showed him everything for about 15 minutes. Then I thought he would have some questions about what I told him because we still had some 10 minutes. Now the pope, smiling again said: “So, may I ask you a question? “Yes, please, your Holiness”, I said. He asked: “You are coming from India, what are you doing in Cambodia?” I was so surprised! I said to myself “this Pope.. he looks already old and weak, a little distant, remote; but he is still very bright in his memory! He doesn’t forget and he knows how to wait for his chance to ask the correct question he wanted!

Given his interest, I briefly told him my own history. I was 16 years as a diocesan priest, then I wanted to come out to work as a missionary and then I went to Cambodia sent by the MEP. After my explanation the Pope asked me some other questions about K. Cham. He encouraged me very much and said that, though he was not able to visit Cambodia, through us he was in touch with the Christians and the other religions of Cambodia.

I was pleasantly surprised about this visit and for his strong personality.

Msgr. Antonysamy Susairaj, MEP

Article Source: CATHOLIC SOCIAL COMMUNICATIONS (C.S.C.) - CAMBODIA