“A humble heart, easy to approach personality and simple down to earth person.” — Archbishop Simon Poh
By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — 29 May 2021. It was around noon time when news broke of the passing of His Eminence Cardinal Cornelius Sim, DD of the Apostolic Vicariate of Brunei Darussalam. Catholics in the region on receiving the announcements from the Apostolic Vicariate in Brunei Darussalam, and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei (CBCMSB), reacted with shock and sadness.
Cardinal Cornelius had sought treatment for cancer at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH), Taoyuan City, Taiwan. On his arrival on 8 May 2021, he found out that because of the worsening COVID-19 infection, he had to be quarantined for 21 days before he could begin cell therapy treatment.
Sadly, he succumbed to his illness on 29 May 2021 at around 8.28 AM, the day he would have officially finished his quarantine.
The Cardinal, aged 69, was the eldest of six children and was ordained a priest in 1989. He was named bishop in 2004 and was one of 13 prelates given a red hat by Pope Francis in November 2020, making him Brunei’s first cardinal.
Kuching Archbishop Simon Poh said he was “indeed saddened by the news of the passing of our Cardinal. We had been in communication for arrangement with Archbishop Thomas Chung of Taipei for his stay during the treatment there. Cardinal Cornelius and I were planning to meet up in Brunei after his treatment whenever Brunei-Sarawak border reopens.
“In terms of ordination dates, we were ordained a year apart. I recalled at his ordination in 1989, it was a great celebration for the Bruneian Church as he was the first local diocesan priest of Brunei.
“On a personal level, our friendship deepened when I assisted him for Masses whenever I visited my relatives in Brunei. Being newly ordained then, we supported and encouraged each other in the ministry. At World Youth Days and Asian Youth Days, we would be together. Cardinal Cornelius was a well-liked youth minister. With his humble heart, easy to approach personality and as a simple down to earth person, I am sure that the young people, Bishops and priests will greatly miss him.
“To a beloved brother, Cornelius, may our Master receive you into eternal joy. ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:23)
At the time of writing, no funeral details have been announced.
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