DILI, 30 may 2022 (TATOLI) – The President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta thanked Pope Francis for appointing the Archbishops of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Díli, Virgílio do Carmo da Silva as the new cardinal from Timor-Leste.
“Thank you, Holy Father, for nominating Timor-Leste’s Archbishop Silva among your new 21 cardinals,” Horta expressed his appreciation after visiting Archbishop Silva at the office of the Archdiocese of Dili, on monday.
President Horta was extremely pleased with the decision by His Holiness Pope Francis to appoint His Archbishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva as one of the new members of the College of Cardinals.
“We believe that this announcement brought not the only privilege to Archbishop Silva alone, but also a great honor to the catholic church of Timor-Leste,” Horta said.
“This is a historical milestone which is welcomed by the catholic in Timor-Leste which comprises 98 percent of the entire population.”
He said Timor-Leste has one of the most cohesive religious communities with the highest percentage of catholic comparative with other Christian catholic countries around the world.
Horta reiterated his previous statement made during his inauguration ceremony to expand the role of the Catholic Church in education, culture, identity, and national unity.
“On behalf of the entire nation, our collective joy and pride by decision of His Holiness the Pope.”
At the same place, Archbishops Silva said that it was such good news for Timor-Leste’s Catholic Church and the Timorese people.
“I had never thought about it and I didn’t expect that to happen to me. I hardly slept last night after receiving this news. It’s my calling from God. But let me put it this way, the Holy Father didn’t do it for myself, so it’s God’s Blessing for Timor-Leste and Timorese people through our Pope Francis,” said Archbishops Silva.
He said it’s a blessing that God has for the Timorese people after the celebration of the 20th anniversary of independence.
Many Timorese took to the social media to congratulate Archbishop Silva after his name was announced by Holy Father among other cardinals on may 29.
Archbishop Silva will be installed as one of the Roman Catholic top officials at a ceremony known as a consistory on agusut 27.
Virgílio do Carmo da Silva was appointed as the Bishop of Dili on january 30, 2016, to replace Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva who passed away on april 2, 2015.
Timor-Leste Christianity began in the 16th century with the arrival of the first Dominican missionaries in Lifau-Oecusse. Since then, the role of the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste has been one of the shapings of a national identity which together with the Tetum language and Portuguese language make Timor-Leste a most distinct and cohesive nation.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
