Among the 21 new Cardinals announced by Pope Francis on 25 May is Archbishop Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, Timor-Leste. He will be the first cardinal from Timor-Leste, Asia’s youngest nation. The news was greeted with great joy in Timor-Leste by both civil and religious leaders.
“Thank you, Holy Father, for nominating Timor-Leste’s Archbishop Silva among your new 21 cardinals,” Timor-Leste President Ramos Horta said. “We believe that this announcement brought not only privilege to Archbishop Silva alone, but also a great honour to the catholic church of Timor-Leste,” Horta said.
Archbishop da Silva said that his appointment was such good news for Timor-Leste’s Catholic Church and the Timorese people.
He will be installed as a cardinal during a ceremony at the Vatican on 27 August.
