Government of Timor-Leste

The Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, will lead the government delegation, also composed of the Minister of Tourism, Commerce and Industry, José Lucas do Carmo da Silva, that will represent the 8th Constitutional Government, in the Vatican, next August 27^th, in the ceremony to create 21 new Cardinals, which will include the first Timorese Cardinal, Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva.

Pope Francis announced, last May 29^th, the names of the 21 new cardinals who will be created in the Consistory, a meeting of cardinals who support the Pontiff in his decisions.

After the announcement of this decision, the Spokesperson of the 8th Constitutional Government congratulated Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva and also the Vatican's representative in Timor-Leste, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, "for this so honourable distinction, that represents an enormous pride for all Timorese people and that constitutes a deserved recognition for his work and his human qualities".

The Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, in his congratulations message to Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, stated that "with the wise and clear-sighted decision of Pope Francis, you become the first Timorese called to perform functions of the utmost importance within the Catholic Church, representing Timor-Leste in the College of Cardinals".

This will be the eighth consistory of the current pontificate, following those held on February 22^nd, 2014, February 14^th, 2015, November 19^th, 2016, June 28^th, 2017, June 28^th, 2018, October 5^th, 2019 and November 28^th, 2020.