DILI, 06 february 2026 (TATOLI) — The Catholic Church and the Government of Timor-Leste have agreed to transfer the remains of former bishops of the Diocese of Dili from Portugal to Timor-Leste in september 2026.
The announcement was made by the President of the Timorese Episcopal Conference (CET), Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, alongside the Bishop of Maliana, Dom Norberto do Amaral, and the Bishop of Baucau, Dom Leandro Maria Alves after a meeting with Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão at the Government Palace on thursday.
Cardinal Silva said the meeting resulted in an agreement to establish a joint commission to organise all necessary preparations for the transfer.
The remains of three bishops will be laid to rest at Dili Cathedral, alongside those of Dom Alberto Ricardo da Silva, who is currently buried at Maloa Cemetery in Dili.
“All the bishops who served in the Diocese of Dili during the Portuguese and Indonesian periods are buried in Lisbon, Portugal,” Cardinal Silva said.
He added that the Prime Minister expressed full support and immediately instructed relevant ministries to assist with preparations.
The Diocese of Dili was the main Catholic jurisdiction during both the Portuguese colonial period and the Indonesian occupation.
Dom Jaime Garcia Goulart (Apostolic Administrator: 1941–1945; Bishop: 1945–1967)
Dom Jaime Garcia Goulart (10 January 1908 – 15 April 1997) was the first bishop of the Diocese of Dili. Born in Candelária do Pico, Portugal, he began leading the diocese as vicar-general from 22 January 1940 to 17 January 1941.
He was appointed apostolic administrator on 18 January 1941, a role he held until 11 October 1945.
On 12 October 1945, he was formally appointed bishop of Dili. He led the diocese until 31 January 1967.
Dom José Joaquim Ribeiro (Coadjutor Bishop: 1965–1966; Bishop: 1967–1977)
Dom José Joaquim Ribeiro (4 February 1918 – 27 July 2002) was a Portuguese Roman Catholic bishop and a strong defender of the Timorese people.
Born in Degolados, Campo Maior, Portugal, he led the Diocese of Dili during a turbulent period, including the final years of Portuguese rule and the Indonesian invasion of Timor-Leste on 7 December 1975.
He remained in the territory for nearly two years under Indonesian military occupation, standing close to the Timorese during one of the most difficult chapters in the country’s history.
Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes (Apostolic Administrator: 1977–1983)
Monsignor Lopes was a prominent religious and political figure from Timor-Leste. Born on november 11, 1918, he served as the highest-ranking Catholic Church official in East Timor between 1977 and 1983.
Monsignor was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Dili after Pope Paul VI accepted his request to retire from episcopal duties in october 1977. He also served as a member of Portugal’s National Assembly in Lisbon.
Monsignor Lopes was a courageous critic of human rights violations during the Indonesian occupation. He became known as “the voice of the voiceless” and died in exile, in Lisbon, Portugal, on February 27, 1991.
TATOLI
