DILI, 19 June 2026 (TATOLI) — Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, has outlined preparations for the transfer of the remains of several Catholic prelates who served in Timor-Leste from Portugal to Dili Cathedral, as well as the construction of a commemorative monument in Lautém municipality.
The presentation was made during a government briefing on ongoing coordination with the Catholic Church regarding the repatriation and memorial arrangements.
According to the plan, the transfer process will begin with a Mass in Portugal in July, followed by funeral and memorial ceremonies in Timor-Leste in September, organised jointly by the government and the Catholic Church.
The remains of Bishop Jaime Garcia Goulart, Bishop José Joaquim Ribeiro, Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes, and Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva are scheduled to be transferred as part of the ceremonies.
The programme will also include the dedication of a Monument and Garden of Remembrance at Dili Cathedral in honour of the prelates, who are regarded as significant figures in both the history of the Catholic Church and the formation of Timorese national identity.
The government also provided an update on construction works at Dili Cathedral and in Mehara, Tutuala, Lautém municipality, where the memorial infrastructure is being developed to house the remains and preserve the legacy of the church leaders.
TATOLI
