Catholic bishops in Thailand issued an urgent Christmas appeal for peace as renewed violence along the Thai-Cambodian border displaced hundreds of thousands and deepened regional instability.
The prelates urged the faithful to be courageous witnesses of hope and reconciliation as the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate the Nativity of Christ, the “Prince of Peace.”
In a message issued Dec. 16, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand (CBCT) addressed the clergy, religious, and laity, urging a spirit of prayer and compassion as the global Church prepares to inaugurate the Jubilee Year 2025.
Archbishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana, president of the CBCT, acknowledged the profound “anxieties” caused by escalating hostilities, which have displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians and destabilized the border region.
“This Christmas, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand invites everyone to live with hope, specifically the hope for peace, amid renewed tensions and violence,” Archbishop Vira said. “We share the pain of seeing so many innocent people forced to flee their homes, and we stand in solidarity with those suffering.”
The archbishop noted that the plight of these civilians on both sides of the border has reached the Holy See. Pope Leo XIV recently expressed his “deep sadness” over the renewed hostilities, issuing a global appeal for an immediate return to diplomatic channels.
“I am deeply saddened by the conflict along the border between Thailand and Cambodia, which has claimed lives and uprooted thousands,” the Holy Father said. “I offer my prayers for those affected and implore the parties involved to return to dialogue.”
The ongoing armed clashes have rendered several border sectors unstable, forcing the suspension of crossings and severely disrupting Christmas pilgrimages and seasonal travel for Catholics and tourists alike.
The bishops noted that these circumstances have made a “Christmas with a difference” unavoidable this year.
Despite the shadow of conflict, Archbishop Vira exhorted the faithful to remain anchored in the theological depth of the season.
“Even when the currents of conflict obscure compassion, Christmas invites us to reflect with wisdom and love,” he said. “We must look beyond the walls of conflict to recognize the inherent dignity of every fellow human being, each a brother or sister in the one human family.”
The CBCT president emphasized that the peace brought by Christ is not merely a political cessation of hostilities, but a profound spiritual mandate. Citing the Gospel of Matthew, the archbishop reminded the faithful that reconciliation is a prerequisite for worship: “If you remember that your brother has something against you… go first and be reconciled” (Mt 5:23–24).
The bishops stressed that the Christian mission during this season is to be “authentic peacemakers,” echoing the Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).
Drawing on the Pope’s recent remarks in Turkey, the CBCT urged Thai Christians to live as “bridges of peace.” The statement recalled the Holy Father’s description of believers as pilgrims “journeying on a bridge connecting earth and heaven,” called to bridge the divide through dialogue and mercy.
The message concluded with a call for the Church in Thailand to “walk together” in fostering a culture of encounter, transforming hatred into understanding and overcoming evil with good, so that the world may reflect the Kingdom of God, where justice and peace prevail.
