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Dili, October 30th, 2021
Press Release
Vote of Condolence on the death of D. Basílio do Nascimento
It was with great sadness and great consternation that the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste received the news of the passing away of Bishop Basílio do Nascimento, of Baucau, today, October 30th, 2021, at the Guido Valadares National Hospital, in Dili, due to a sudden cardiac stroke.
D. Basílio do Nascimento was born on June 14th, 1950, in Suai, capital of the municipality of Covalima.
He was consecrated priest on June 26th, 1977, in Évora, Portugal. He then went to Paris, France, to work in religious assistance to immigrants. He remained in Paris until 1982 and during this period he completed his Degree in Pastoral Theology and Catechesis at the Catholic Institute of Paris and obtained a Diploma in French Literature and Language.
In 1982 he returned to Évora where he was responsible for the parishes of Cano and Casa Branca in Sousel and Santa Vitória do Ameixial in Estremoz.
In Évora he was also appointed member of the pre-seminary formative team of Vila-Viçosa, Archdiocese of Évora. He was professor of Pastoral Theology at the Higher Institute of Theology, spiritual director of the Major Seminary of Nossa Senhora da Purificação in Évora and also diocesan responsible in the secretariat of the Pastoral Care of Vocations.
He returned to Timor-Leste in October 1994, being appointed parochial vicar of the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima, in Ainaro. In December 1995, he was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Pastoral Affairs of the Diocese of Dili.
On November 30th, 1996, Pope John Paul II appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Baucau and Bishop of Septimunicia. He took possession of the Diocese of Baucau on March 19th, 1997, on the Feast of Saint Joseph, accompanied by the Apostolic Nuncio in Jakarta, Monsignor Pietro Sambi.
He was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Dili, a post he held from November 26th, 2002 to February 27th, 2004.
On March 6th, 2004, he was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Baucau by Pope John Paul II.
In 1999, December 7th, Bishop Basílio do Nascimento was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty of Portugal.
The Spokesperson of the Government, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, on behalf of the Council of Ministers and the entire Government, expressed that “we dedicate our thoughts and prayers in these difficult and suffering times and we express our deepest condolences to all the family of the dear Bishop Basílio do Nascimento, to all Catholics and to all Timorese People”. END