“Naming him cardinal is gift from God to people, church,” says Timor-Leste archbishop

Archbishop Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva of Dili thought that Pope Francis's decision to appoint him a cardinal was a gift from God to the people and church of Timor-Leste.

Archbishop Da Silva gave this message after meeting with Timor-Leste's President Ramos Horta on May 30 at the archdiocesan palace in Ledicere, Dili.

The prelate said, "I am convinced that Pope Francis did not offer this to me, Virgilio, but rather to the church and the people of Timor Leste."

As the Catholic Church of Timor-Leste just celebrated its 500th year of evangelization, he said that the people and church of Timor-Leste deserve this extraordinary kindness more.

"Because the people and church of Timor Leste deserve this grace as an acknowledgment of God through the Pope, who has been evangelizing for 500 years and celebrated the 20th anniversary of independence on May 20," Archbishop Da Silva was reported as saying by Tatoli news agency. 

He stated that he never imagined becoming a cardinal.

"I am surprised as I never imagined or sought." I was stunned when I heard this news. The appointment to be the Cardinal was unexpected. Last night, I was unable to sleep comfortably,” said the Archbishop. 

Timor-Leste's president, José Ramos-Horta, met with the archbishop to congratulate him on behalf of the whole country.

"I came here to congratulate the people and church of Timor Leste and Archbishop Dom Virgilio and thank Pope Francis for elevating Archbishop Dom Virgilio to cardinal for the Church of Timor Leste."

Pope Francis named Bishop Da Silva as bishop of Dili on January 30, 2016.

On May 29, after the Pope's weekly Sunday Regina, he named Da Silva and 20 others as cardinals.

At a meeting at the Vatican on August 27, Francis said that he would install the new cardinals.

The first cardinal of the country, Da Silva, will serve 98 percent of the entire population of Timor-Leste, which is composed of Catholics. 

There are three dioceses in the country: Dili, Maliana, and Baucau. - Kasmir Nema