Limited communication with the outside world presents major challenges for the Catholic community in Laos, according to Jesuit Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzález, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang and President of the Episcopal Conference of Laos and Cambodia (CELAC).
“In Laos, there are great difficulties in communicating with the outside world… it is very complicated to get in touch with the local bishops, who are rather elderly and sick, or with other representatives of the Catholic communities,” he told Vatican’s Fides News Agency in an interview.
Despite language barriers and governmental control, he noted that “contacts are sporadic.” Yet, he observed, “the Catholic community in Laos gives glory to God, has a strong faith, and continues its journey with joy.”
CELAC brings together the bishops of both Laos and Cambodia, convening twice a year, alternating between the two countries.
Maintaining communication between bishops throughout the year depends on available resources and the needs of each ecclesial community. Local limitations in Laos mean that only local priests and religious are permitted to serve there.
“There are only local priests and religious because it is not permitted to have foreign missionaries on a permanent basis,” Figaredo explained.
Still, he added, “the Laotian community is not discouraged at all, and truly lives each day to the glory of God.”
The Laotian Church is led by Andrew Souksavath Nouane, the Apostolic Vicar of Paksé since 2022. Figaredo identified Bishop Nouane as the main communicator with CELAC, noting, “he is the youngest and speaks English, so he is the reference for our communications with the Laotian Church.”
The Laotian Church, he said, “is necessarily autonomous and self-sufficient, at all levels, since it has no material or spiritual aid from abroad.”
However, Figaredo pointed to what he calls a “small miracle” in the community’s resilience, explaining that pastoral work relies heavily on local Laotian nuns and catechists who minister to remote villages with baptized members.
Reflecting on his experiences in Laos, Figaredo recalled the enthusiasm among the faithful. “At the episcopal ordination liturgy of Apostolic Vicar Souksavath, an incredible number of people packed the church, about 4,000 of them came from all over the country,” he recounted.
In addition, the 2016 celebration honoring Laotian martyrs was a deeply moving event, “very well organized and full of emotion.”
This resilient spirit is matched by a deep loyalty to the universal Church, with Laotian Catholics maintaining a strong bond with the Pope, whom they “regard with great affection,” according to Figaredo.
He outlined some of the Church’s needs: “Facilities, spiritual and biblical formation for nuns, catechists, seminarians, the faithful. Priests and teachers could come from the Churches of neighboring countries, but this is not always allowed.”
A hopeful sign for the community has been the establishment of Caritas Laos, which has integrated into the Caritas Internationalis network.
“The establishment of Caritas Laos is already working, and is included in the Caritas Internationalis network, so that Laotian volunteers participate in meetings abroad, for example in Bangkok,” he said.
Figaredo expressed optimism for the future of the Church in Laos, noting the growing number of vocations among young people.
“From my own experience, I can say that there is great hope for the Church in Laos. There is life. There are many young people, and there is a blossoming of vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, which are more numerous than in Cambodia,” he said, highlighting that Laos, with 51,000 Catholics, has a larger faithful population than neighboring Cambodia.
He acknowledged that priests educated abroad, particularly in the Philippines, have become valuable links for the Laotian Church, as they are fluent in English and can assist with foreign communications.
