DILI, 23 august 2022 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste’s Charismatic Leader, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão arrived at the Fiumicino International Airport “Leonardo da Vinci”, in Rome, at around 1.38 pm local time to attend the elevation of Archbishop Virgílio do Carmo da Silva as the first cardinal of Timor-Leste in a Papal Consistory to take place on august 27.
Gusmão was appointed by the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta as a special envoy to attend the consistory ceremony.
He was accompanied by the political advisor of the President’s Office, Tomas do Rosário Cabral, and the former ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Vatican, Roberto Soares.
The team was directly welcomed by the current ambassador of Timor-Leste to the Vatican, Juvita Rodrigues Ataide Gonçalves.
“Gusmão had a few minutes of rest at a VIP hall in Rome to be updated with the agenda of the Consistory ceremony,” said in a statement released on tuesday.
Related News:https://en.tatoli.tl/2022/08/19/xanana-gusmao-and-pope-francis-will-discuss-the-document-on-human-fraternity/09/
The Charismatic leader is set to meet Pope Francis on august 25 before the Papal Consistory.
Archbishop Virgilio left Timor-Leste on tuesday and was set to arrive in Rome on wednesday. He was received by Ambassador Rodrigues and the Protocol team of the Holy See.
Related News:https://en.tatoli.tl/2022/08/22/archbishop-of-dili-virgilio-do-carmo-da-silva-departed-for-vatican/11/
Archbishop Virgilio is one of the 21 newly named Cardinals to be elevated on saturday (august 27).
His Most Reverend Excellency Archbishop Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, son of José do Carmo and Isabel da Silva was born in Venilale on November 27th, 1968. He made his aspirancy, pre-Seminary, in Fatumaca in 1983. He entered the novitiate, also in Fatumaca, in the year 1989-1990. He took his first vows on May 31st, 1990. He did his philosophical studies and theology in the Philippines, in Canlubang and Parañaque, respectively. He took his final vows on March 19th, 1997. He received his sacerdotal ordination in Parañaque, in the Philippines, on December 18th, 1998. He was then assigned to the Salesian house in Venilale as bursar and vicar. In 2005, he was sent to Rome where he studied Spiritual Theology at the Salesian Pontifical University. Upon his return to Timor-Leste, he was appointed Master of Novices and Director of Fatumaca House, positions he held from 2008 until January 2014, when he took over as Provincial Superior.
On March 19th, 2016, His Most Reverend Excellency Archbishop Virgílio do Carmo da Silva was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Dili and on September 11th, 2019 he was appointed the first Archbishop of Dili
The prelates to take oath on august 27 are:
- Archbishop Jean-Marc Aveline, of Marseille (France).
- Archbishop Peter Okpaleke, of Ekwulobia (Nigeria).
- Archbishop Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, of Manaus (Brazil).
- Archbishop Filipe Neri António Sebastião of Rosário Ferrão, of Goa e Damão (India).
- Bishop Robert Walter McElroy, of San Diego (U.S.A.).
- Archbishop Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, of Dili (East Timor).
- Bishop Oscar Cantoni, of Como (Italy).
- Archbishop Anthony Poola, of Hyderabad (India).
- Archbishop Paulo Cezar Costa,, of Brasília (Brazil).
- Bishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr M. Afr, of Wa (Ghana).
- Archbishop William Goh Seng Chye, of Singapore (Singapore).
- Archbishop Adalberto Martínez Flores, of Asunción (Paraguay).
- Archbishop Giorgio Marengo, Prefect of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia).
The five who are over the age of 80 are:
- Archbishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal – Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena (Colombia).
- Archbishop Lucas Van Looy sdb – Archbishop Emeritus of Ghent (Belgium).
- Archbishop Arrigo Miglio – Archbishop Emeritus of Cagliari (Italy).
- Father Gianfranco Ghirlanda sj. – Professor of Theology.
- Monsignor Fortunato Frezza, canon of St. Peter’s.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
