DILI, 21 september 2022 (TATOLI) – The Substitute of the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Peña Parra, and the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta inaugurated the new nunciature of the Vatican in Dili.
The inauguration took place, on tuesday, at around 6 pm local time, in the presence of members of the Government, members of parliament, ambassadors, religious leaders, dignitaries, and guests.
In his speech at the inauguration ceremony, President Horta said after the arrival of the first Portuguese Catholic missionaries in Lifau, Oe-Cusse, 500 years ago, now Timor-Leste has a cardinal, 98% Catholics, and the Apostolic nunciature.
Horta said that the inauguration of the new nunciature demonstrates the physical and spiritual presence of the Holy See in the country.
Horta congratulated Holly See on the inauguration of the new building.
Horta thanked His Eminence Archbishop Peña Parra for traveling to Timor-Leste to spread Pope Francis’ messages.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Archbishop Peña Parra said: “This architectural harmony is a reflection of the excellent bilateral relationship between Timor-Leste and the Holly See.”
He said the new Apostolic nunciature served as a source of encouragement and renewal for the Catholic faithful and all the people as they continue to serve God and their neighbors, especially the poor and vulnerable in the country.
“Each part of the Catholic faith is important to the nation’s identity, past, and present. It serves as a source of strength (…) for the Timorese people during good and bad times for more than 500 years. This reality was recently recognized by the Holy Father when he created His Eminence Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, to be part of the College of Cardinals as the first Cardinal in the history of Timor-Leste,” Parra said.
He said the country’s respect for religion reflected the National Parliament’s decision to adopt the 2019 Declaration on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed in Abu Dhabi in 2019.
Archbishop Parra thanked the President of the Republic for helping the Holy See to get the land for the construction of the new building of the Apostolic Nunciature in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
