DILI, 07 january 2026 (TATOLI) — Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, is participating in the first Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals convened by Pope Leo XIV, which is taking place at the Vatican from January 7 to 8.
The consistory officially opens this afternoon at 4:00 p.m. in the Vatican’s Synod Hall and is being held behind closed doors, according to the Holy See.
All the cardinals of the Catholic Church, including Archbishop Silva, have been called to Rome by the Pope for his first extraordinary consistory.
In a statement released on December 20, Pope Leo said the consistory would “be characterized by moments of communion and fraternity, as well as times dedicated to reflection, sharing, and prayer.”
“These moments will be aimed at fostering a common discernment and offering support and counsel to the Holy Father in the exercise of his high and burdensome responsibility in the governance of the universal church,” the statement read.
Cardinal Silva traveled to the Vatican on january 5, accompanied by the Episcopal Vicar for Education, Fr. Guilhermino da Silva, who is also the parish priest of Motael Church in Dili.
According to the Archdiocese of Dili, following the consistory, Cardinal Silva and Fr. Silva are scheduled to visit Portugal on january 11 to begin initial talks about bringing the remains of Timorese bishops buried in Lisbon back to Timor-Leste.
Among the remains of Timorese Catholic prelates is Martinho da Costa Lopes, the former Apostolic Administrator of Dili, who led the Church in Timor-Leste during the Indonesian occupation and died in Lisbon in 1991.
TATOLI
