[ Cardinal ]Charles Maung Bo
Charles Maung Bo ( my, ချားလ်မောင်ဘို, ; born 29 October 1948) is a Burmese Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Yangon since 7 June 2003. He was created a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2015.
Early life and ...
sent public congratulations to Sim on behalf of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences
The Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) is an association of episcopal conferences of Catholic Church in South, Southeast, East and Central Asia. The federation fosters solidarity and joint responsibility for the welfare of the Church a ...
. Sim continued to credit his charismatic roots as the basis of his faith, allowing that the movement has been appropriately "domesticated, maybe for good reason". He did not attend the consistory in Rome because of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. He expected to receive the symbols of his new rank when the new Apostolic Delegate to Brunei, Archbishop Wojciech Załuski
Wojciech Załuski (born 5 April 1960) is a Polish prelate of the Catholic Church who has worked in the diplomatic service of the Holy See since 1985. He has been an apostolic nuncio and an archbishop since 2014.
Biography
He was born in Za ...
, could travel to take up his post. At that consistory, Pope Francis made him Cardinal-Priest of San Giuda Taddeo Apostolo
The church of San Giuda Taddeo Apostolo is a Catholic place of worship located in the Appio-Latino district of Rome, in via Amedeo Crivellucci. It is also known by its location as San Giuda Taddeo ai Cessati Spiriti after the nearest broad street, ...
. On 16 December 2020, he was named a member of the Congregation for the Clergy
The Dicastery for the Clergy, formerly named Congregation for the Clergy (; formerly the Sacred Congregation for the Clergy and Sacred Congregation of the Council), is the dicastery of the Roman Curia responsible for overseeing matters regardin ...
. His cardinal's red irettaand ring were couriered to Brunei at a later date after the consistory. In spite of a quietened coverage of his elevation as he did not attend the consistory, Sim still recognized his appointment to the cardinalate as being a sign of worldwide recognition of the nation's Christian community in general.
In March 2021, Sim joined with other Asian cardinals in calling for "peace and reconciliation" in Myanmar. During his final address to his congregation in May that year, Sim urged the People of God
''People of God'' ( he, עם האלהים) is a term used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to the Israelites and used in Christianity to refer to Christians.
In the Bible
Hebrew Bible and Old Testament
In the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, the Isr ...
in Brunei not to "be spectators" in his absence, but to make visible their contributions of "time, talent and treasure."
Illness, death and legacy
Sim died on 29 May 2021 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) in Taoyuan, Taiwan
Taoyuan () is a special municipality of the Republic of China (Taiwan) located in northwestern Taiwan, neighboring New Taipei City to the north-east, Yilan County to the south-east, and Hsinchu County to the south-west. Taoyuan District ...
. He was 69, and suffered a cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and possib ...
.[ He had travelled to Taiwan for ]cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
treatment. His passing received coverage in local state-influenced news media and online forums, as well as Catholic outlets throughout the world.[
Tributes were sent following his death from prelates in neighbouring dioceses in the Southeast Asian region, as well as from state dignitaries in Brunei. Speaking on Sim's death, the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Julian Leow said, "Brunei has lost one of her illustrious sons, the Bishops’ Conference, a dear brother and the Church, a prince."] Archbishop of Kota Kinabalu John Wong said, “Cardinal Sim left an unforgettable mark in his untiring and devoted service to the Church, and for his constant advocacy of dialogue and peace for all people in Brunei." The United States Embassy in Brunei expressed its "deep sadness" at the passing of the "charismatic leader" Cardinal Sim.
On the day of Sim's passing, Pope Francis
Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...
sent a telegram of condolence praising Sim's "generous service" to the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei
The Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam ( la, Vicariatus Apostolicus Bruneiensis) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction covering the territory of Brunei and headed by an ''apostolic vicar''. The first apostolic vicar was Corneli ...
and to the Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of Rome ...
, while also expressing his sadness in learning of the cardinal's death, and expressing solidarity with his family as well as the clergy and faithful of Brunei. The Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei
The Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam ( la, Vicariatus Apostolicus Bruneiensis) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction covering the territory of Brunei and headed by an ''apostolic vicar''. The first apostolic vicar was Corneli ...
suspended all church activities throughout the country except Masses for two weeks to observe a period of mourning
Mourning is the expression of an experience that is the consequence of an event in life involving loss, causing grief, occurring as a result of someone's death, specifically someone who was loved although loss from death is not exclusively ...
for the late cardinal while his body was being returned to Brunei, from Taiwan.
A wake (ceremony)
A wake is a social gathering associated with death, held before or after a funeral. Traditionally, a wake involves family and friends keeping watch over the body of the dead person, usually in the home of the deceased. Some wakes are held at ...
was held for the late cardinal at the Church of Our Lady of Assumption, the parish which housed his cathedra
A ''cathedra'' is the raised throne of a bishop in the early Christian basilica. When used with this meaning, it may also be called the bishop's throne. With time, the related term ''cathedral'' became synonymous with the "seat", or principa ...
in Brunei’s capital, on 14 June 2021 as his body lay in state, enabling mourners to pay their respects. A requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead ( la, Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead ( la, Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, ...
was held the next day, 15 June, at 9AM and his body was driven through Brunei to all other parishes for the congregations to pay their last respects, before being buried in Kuala Belait
Kuala Belait (KB; Jawi: ) is the administrative town of Belait District, Brunei. The population of the town proper was 4,259 in 2016. Kuala Belait is officially a municipal area (), as well as a village under the mukim of the same name. The t ...
. Among those in attendance at the funeral service were members of the diplomatic corps
The diplomatic corps (french: corps diplomatique) is the collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country or body.
The diplomatic corps may, in certain contexts, refer to the collection of accredited heads of mission ( am ...
in Brunei, as well as representatives from other Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
churches and prominent local community figures.
On September 5 2021, exactly 100 days following Sim's death, the Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE) announced the appointment of the first Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professor, the Rev. Deacon Prof. Dr. Sherman Kuek. The professorship's main mission is facilitating research on theological and interreligious dialogue. The date set for the official appointment was September 16 2021, corresponding to Sim's 70th birth anniversary. On All Souls' Day
All Souls' Day, also called ''The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed'', is a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, observed by certain Christian denominations on 2 November. Through prayer, intercessions, alms and ...
in November 2021, Pope Francis held a mass at the Throne of Saint Peter in St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican ( it, Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano), or simply Saint Peter's Basilica ( la, Basilica Sancti Petri), is a church built in the Renaissance style located in Vatican City, the papal e ...
in Vatican City
Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—'
* german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ')
* pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—'
* pt, Cidade do Vati ...
for the repose of Sim's soul, as well as of all other cardinals and bishops who had passed on in the last year.
Sim was among the contributing theologians and bishops of a youth edition release of the New Testament
The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
intended for the young peoples of Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
, which was launched at the FABC general conference in Thailand on 21 October 2022.
Honours
* ''Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professorial Chair of Theology and Dialogue'' - The Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE) – (2021)
See also
*Cardinals created by Pope Francis
Pope Francis () has created cardinals at eight consistories held at roughly annual intervals beginning in 2014, most recently on 27 August 2022. He has created 121 cardinals from 66 countries, 23 of which had never been represented in the Col ...
*Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam
The Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam ( la, Vicariatus Apostolicus Bruneiensis) is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction covering the territory of Brunei and headed by an ''apostolic vicar''. The first apostolic vicar was Corneli ...
*Catholic Church in Brunei
The Catholic Church in Brunei Darussalam is a part of the worldwide Catholic Church, in communion with the pope in Rome, and constitutionally recognised within the state of Brunei Darussalam. The entire territory of the Church in Brunei is organi ...
*Ethnic Chinese in Brunei
Ethnic Chinese in Brunei are people of full or partial Chineseparticularly Han Chineseancestry who are citizens or residents in Brunei. As of 2015, they constitute 10.1% of the country's population, making them the second largest ethnic group in ...
References
External links
*
Official website of the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sim, Cornelius
1951 births
21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Brunei
Bruneian cardinals
Bruneian people of Chinese descent
2021 deaths
Alumni of the University of Dundee
Franciscan University of Steubenville alumni
Sim
Cardinals created by Pope Francis