Cornelius Sim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Eminence Cornelius Sim DD |
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| Cardinal Vicar Apostolic of Brunei |
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Sim during his homily
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| See | Brunei Darussalam |
| Enthroned | 21 January 2005 |
| Reign ended | 29 May 2021 |
| Other posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 26 November 1989 |
| Consecration | 21 January 2005 by Salvatore Pennacchio |
| Created Cardinal | 28 November 2020 |
| Rank | Cardinal priest |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Cornelius Sim |
| Born | 16 September 1951 Seria, Belait, Brunei |
| Died | 29 May 2021 (aged 69) Taoyuan, Taiwan |
| Buried | Kuala Belait Christian Cemetery |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
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| Alma mater |
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| Motto | Duc in altum ('Put out into the deep'; Luke 5:4) |
| Coat of arms |  |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
Cornelius Sim (1951–2021) was an important leader in the Catholic Church from Brunei. He served as the top Catholic leader in Brunei, called the Vicar Apostolic, from 2004 until he passed away. Before that, he was the apostolic prefect of Brunei from 1997 to 2004.
He was the first person from the Franciscan University of Steubenville's program for priests to be ordained. In 2020, Pope Francis made him a cardinal. This made him the first cardinal from Brunei and from the island of Borneo. Many people called him "Brunei's most famous Catholic" and a "towering figure" in the history of Christianity in Brunei.
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Early Life and Education
Cornelius Sim was born in Seria, Brunei, on September 16, 1951. He was the oldest of six children. His grandparents were among the first Catholics in their village. He grew up Catholic and went to Catholic schools.
He studied engineering at Dundee University in Scotland. After college, he worked for Brunei LNG, an energy company, from 1978 to 1985. During this time, he stopped practicing his faith.
When he returned to Brunei, he reconnected with his Catholic faith. He joined a group that focused on a personal relationship with God. In 1988, he earned a master's degree in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. He then became an administrator at St John's Church, Kuala Belait before becoming a deacon in 1989.
Becoming a Priest
Sim was ordained as a priest on November 26, 1989. He was the first local priest in Brunei. For a time, he was the only priest serving all Catholic churches in Brunei. He promised to continue services for everyone.
In 1995, he became the vicar general of Brunei. At that time, Brunei was part of the Diocese of Miri in Malaysia. Later, Brunei became its own area for the Church, called the Apostolic Prefecture of Brunei. Pope John Paul II chose Sim to lead it on November 21, 1997.
Leading the Church in Brunei
On October 20, 2004, Pope John Paul II made Brunei's Church area a "vicariate." He appointed Sim as the first Apostolic Vicar of Brunei. Sim also became a Titular Bishop.
As Bishop
He officially became a bishop on January 21, 2005. The ceremony was held in Brunei so local people could attend. Sim often spoke about the importance of peace and understanding among all religions in Brunei. He also supported schools run by the Church.
As the first local bishop, Sim set seven main goals for the Church in Brunei. These included helping adults learn more about their faith and supporting young people and families. He also focused on helping migrants and spreading the Christian message.
Sim met with important Church leaders, including Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 and Pope Francis in 2018. He also supported Brunei's efforts to pray for peace in Palestine in 2014.
In 2015, Sim celebrated his 10th anniversary as a bishop and 25th anniversary as a priest. Many priests and bishops from nearby countries attended the special Mass. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sim started livestreaming Masses. This allowed people to participate from home during lockdowns.
Becoming a Cardinal
On October 25, 2020, Pope Francis announced that he would make Sim a cardinal. This happened on November 28, 2020. Sim accepted this honor, seeing it as a good sign for Brunei.
He could not attend the ceremony in Rome due to travel restrictions. However, he later received the special hat (biretta) and ring that cardinals wear. He was named a member of the Congregation for the Clergy, an important group in the Vatican. Sim believed his appointment showed worldwide recognition for Brunei's Christian community.
In March 2021, Sim joined other Asian cardinals in calling for peace in Myanmar. In his last message to his community, he encouraged them to actively contribute to the Church.
His Passing and Legacy
Cardinal Sim passed away on May 29, 2021, in Taiwan. He was 69 years old and had been receiving treatment for cancer. His death was reported by news outlets in Brunei and around the world.
Many leaders shared their sadness and praised Sim's work. The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur said Brunei had lost "one of her illustrious sons." The US Embassy in Brunei also expressed deep sadness for the "charismatic leader."
Pope Francis sent a message of condolence. He praised Sim's "generous service" to the Church in Brunei. The Church in Brunei observed a two-week period of mourning.
A special ceremony was held for Sim on June 14, 2021, in Brunei's capital. His body was then driven to other churches for people to pay their respects. He was buried in Kuala Belait. Many important people attended the funeral, including diplomats and leaders from other Christian churches.
In 2021, a special professorship was created in his name. It focuses on research about theology and dialogue between religions. In November 2021, Pope Francis held a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica to remember Sim and other leaders who had passed away.
Sim was also one of the theologians who helped create a special edition of the New Testament for young people in Asia. This was launched in 2022.
Honors
- Cornelius Cardinal Sim Professorial Chair of Theology and Dialogue - The Christian Institute for Theological Engagement (CHRISTE) – (2021)
See also
- Cardinals created by Pope Francis
- Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam
- Catholic Church in Brunei
- Ethnic Chinese in Brunei
