After decades away from their homeland, the mortal remains of three former Church leaders who accompanied the people of Timor-Leste through war, occupation and the struggle for self-determination have returned to the country they served. Source: Vatican News.
The urns containing the remains of Bishop Jaime Garcia Goulart, Bishop José Joaquim Ribeiro, and Monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes arrived at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili on September 1 aboard an Aero Dili flight from Bali, Indonesia.
Their return from Portugal marks a historic moment for the Catholic Church and the people of Timor-Leste. The three Church leaders are now reunited with the memory of Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva, as the nation prepares to lay all four to rest together at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Dili on September 10.
The urns were received with full military honours by members of the Falintil-FDTL before being taken to the airport’s VIP lounge, where representatives of the government and the Catholic Church signed the official handover document.
From early morning, thousands of people gathered along the route to the airport to welcome Church leaders remembered by many as shepherds who remained close to the people in times of suffering.
President José Ramos-Horta was among those present to receive the remains, together with former prime minister Mari Alkatiri, senior government and military officials, and Church leaders.
Speaking on behalf of the Timor-Leste Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Virgílio Do Carmo da Silva said the repatriation was more than a ceremonial act.
The Church, he said, received their mortal remains “with hearts filled with joy, gratitude and spiritual emotion.” Their return, he added, was a moment to reaffirm the religious and national identity of Timor-Leste and a sign of cooperation between Church and State.
“During the darkest moments of our history and struggle, they became the voice of the voiceless,” the Cardinal said.
“They stood firmly beside those who suffered amid the hardships and violence of war. They became pillars of hope and defenders of human dignity and the right of this land to self-determination.”
The homecoming continued on September 2 with a solemn Mass at Tasi-Tolu, presided over by Bishop Norberto do Amaral, President of the Timor-Leste Episcopal Conference.
The celebration brought together the memory of the three Church leaders whose remains had returned from Portugal with that of Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva, whose remains had been transferred from the Maloa–Ailok Laran Cemetery in Dili.
In his homily, Bishop Norberto reflected on the lives of the four pastors and their place in the history of the Timorese Church.
“They had been away from Timor for many years,” he said. “Some left because of age and retirement, while others were separated from the country because of its political situation. Today, they return to Timor not physically, but spiritually, as their mortal remains, preserved in ashes, are brought back among us.”
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Timor-Leste welcomes home mortal remains of bishops who stood with the people (By Fr Kasmir Nema SVD, Vatican News)
