Carmelite Provincial Delegate for Timor-Leste, Fr Carlito Da Costa Araújo, has been appointed to the team preparing for the Papal Visit to Timor later this year. Pope Francis will visit Dili from 9 – 11 September as part of his trip to Asian and Oceania, visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.

Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva of Dili said it is “with great joy” that Catholics in Timor-Leste welcomed the recent announcement of a papal visit to the country. “As one of the newest countries in the new millennium, as well as the fact that the majority of the people are Catholics, we have long desired the Pope because the head of Catholic Church’s presence here in East Timor is a blessing, a moment of unity, moment of love and hope,” the Cardinal said.

Fr Carlito said he was delighted to be part of the team preparing for the Pope’s visit. “It is such an important moment for us in Timor, and there are many things to be done so that everything will be ready.”

Photos of inaugural meeting of the organising team courtesy of the Archdiocese of Dili.