On January 18^th, 2024, the Minister of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, Agio Pereira, and the Minister of State Administration, Tomás do Rosário Cabral, received the Cardinal Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dili, Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, SDB, and the representative of the Holy See in Timor-Leste, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, at the Government Palace in Dili. 

This meeting marks the first dialogue between the leaders and Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva since the inauguration of the 9th Constitutional Government, with the purpose of exchanging greetings, wishes for a prosperous year and a brief presentation of the policy and modus operandi of the 9th Constitutional Government.

During the meeting, government priorities and details of the General State Budget for 2024 were discussed, as well as issues related to the composition and structure of the 9th Constitutional Government. 

His Eminence Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, SDB, expressed his gratitude to the government for the invitation to this meeting and took the opportunity to share information about the social, educational, and ecclesial governance activities of the Catholic Church in the country planned for 2024, for the benefit of the entire Timorese society.

The Ministers expressed their satisfaction at this constructive dialogue with the realization of this constructive dialogue with the Church, recognizing the importance of collaboration and cooperation between institutions for the promotion of well-being and national development.