He was sent as a missionary in Cambodia where he first studied Khmer language for three years between 1998 and 2001. He was finally named parish priest in the small parish of Chomkarcheang in Takéo Province.
Episcopal career
The day before Christmas 2009, he was named coadjutorvicar of Phnom Penh in order to replace bishop Émile Destombes, who was about to resign for age reasons. He succeeded him on 10 October 2010 after being ordained bishop on 20 March 2010.[1] At that time he was the youngest French bishop and one of the youngest bishops in the world.