East Timor Cardinal-Elect ‘Almost Fainted’ When He Heard Pope Francis Had Chosen Him| National Catholic Register

Archbishop Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva mentioned he views his elevation as a blessing for the closely Catholic nation, which not too long ago celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the restoration of its independence.

The latest — and first — cardinal-elect of the island-nation of East Timor says he was fully shocked by his appointment by Pope Francis over the weekend. 

“After I heard this information, I used to be so shocked I virtually fainted,” Archbishop Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva informed reporters Might 30. “I by no means dreamed of this, and I by no means appeared for it.”

Pope Francis on Sunday introduced the names of 21 males who might be created cardinals at an Aug. 27 consistory. At age 54, soon-to-be Cardinal da Silva might be eligible to vote in conclaves for 26 years.

President Jose Ramos-Horta of East Timor paid a courtesy name to congratulate Cardinal-elect da Silva, who leads the Archdiocese of Dili.

East Timor, or Timor-Leste, occupies the japanese half of the island of Timor, which it shares with Indonesia. The inhabitants of the nation, which was colonized by Portugal, is almost 98% Catholic and really youthful — roughly 40% of the inhabitants is under the age of 15, and the nation’s median age is 20, in response to the CIA World Factbook. 

Cardinal-elect da Silva, a priest of the Salesians of St. John Bosco, has led the native Church of Dili since 2016 as a bishop; he grew to become an archbishop when the see was raised to an archdiocese in 2019. He serves as vice chairman of the nationwide bishops’ convention. 

He made perpetual vows in 1997 and was ordained a priest the next yr.

He mentioned he views his elevation as a blessing for the closely Catholic nation, which not too long ago celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the restoration of its independence.

Pope Francis has expressed curiosity in visiting the area in particular person. In an October 2021 interview, the Pope mentioned that in 2022 he wish to make journeys to Papua New Guinea and East Timor, which had been deliberate for late 2020 earlier than they have been canceled due to the pandemic.