Government of Timor-Leste

Nuncio Leopoldo Gerely, with the prelates from the Díli Dioceses, D. Alberto Ricardo da Silva and the Baucau Dioceses, D. Basílio do Nascimento, presided the Holy Communion celebration that acclaimed Father Norberto Amaral as Bishop of the new Dioceses of Maliana. The ceremony took place at the Sanctuary of John Paul II, in Tasitolu, Díli.

The Bishop’s acclamation ritual started according to the Roman Catholic Church. “Since the early days that the Papal doctrine was to ask Bishop Neófito, in front of his followers, of his decision to watch over the faith and maintain his fidelity to the Episcopal mission. Therefore, brother, do you accept a total delivery, to the death, to exercise the Episcopal mission, inherited by the Apostles, one that today we intended to confer to you under the grace of the Holy Spirit, shed through the imposition of its servants hands?” Neófito responds: “I do!” And thus the delivery of the Episcopal power is done by the celebrant. The ceremony also reflects the nomination made by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XIV, to the person of D. Norberto de Amaral for direct the Dioceses of Maliana.

Before, Timor-Leste couldn’t form an Episcopal Conference due to the fact that it only had two Dioceses’. However, from now onwards, the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste can count on the presence of the new Dioceses of Maliana at the Evangelization services and the development of the faith of all Christians spread out in Timor-Leste’s territory. Therefore, Timor-Leste can now be a part of the Episcopal Conference in the Southeast Region of Asia.

Also present were the Atambua Prelate, D. Dominikus Saku, the Eminent Bishop from Atambua, D. Anton Pain Ratu, SVD, the Bali Prelate, D. Silvestre San, the Darwin Prelate, D. Eugene Hurley, the Eminent Bishop from Sidney, D. Hilton Deakin, D. José Lay from Macau and the Bishop of Malaysia.

Also present were the Vice Prime-Minister, Dr. José Luís Guterres, a few members of Government, the members of Parliament, the Republic’s General Prosecutor, the Anti-Corruption Commissioner, the Special Representative for the United Nations Secretary-General in Timor-Leste, Hameerah Haq, Diplomatic Corps in Timor-Leste, representatives of the Parishes from the Díli, Baucau and Maliana Dioceses’, Priests and Nuns of the several religious congregations in Díli.