By Deborah Castellano Lubov and Fr. Bernardo Suate – Dili
“It was a historical event, a celebration for the people of Timor, a celebration of the faith of the Catholic Church in Timor, years after the first visit of St Pope John Paul II, and the first visit to our homeland as a sovereign nation.”
In an interview with Vatican News’ Fr Bernardo Suate, Cardinal Virgilio do Carma da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, described Pope Francis’ just-concluded Apostolic Visit to the nation, calling it “successful” thanks to all who made the Journey possible.
Confirmed our identity and faith
“The Pope’s visit,” Cardinal Da Silva observed, “affirmed and confirmed our identity, saying to the Timorese: ‘Even though we are small as a country, we have something unique, and that is our Catholic faith.'”
“We are not Indonesians, nor are we Australians, but we are Timorese,” he said, noting that, as such, “we have our own unique Timorese and Catholic identity.”
The fruits that “will be reaped from Pope Francis’ presence, for the Church, country, and society,” he insisted, are “reinforcing the faith” and “bringing peace to the young people of Timor.”
‘Salt and light to the world’
Even though Pope John Paul II visited the country when “we were still a colony under Indonesia, in a state of desperation,” the Cardinal highlighted that the former Pope’s message was “one of hope, namely to ‘Be firm in your faith, continue to be salt and light to the world.'”
“After two decades of independence, the visit of Pope John Paul II, followed by Pope Francis’ visit, during these two decades of transition in the process of building a nation and a new identity,” Cardinal Da Silva expressed, “there was a new birth in this corner of the world.”
Living Catholic faith in this corner of world
The Holy Father’s stay in the overwhelmingly Catholic-majority island nation, he noted, “was an opportunity to share with the world the reality of the Timorese people,” especially “the faith of the Timorese people, living the Catholic faith in this corner of the world.”
The Cardinal also recalled the “strong messages” the Holy Father left the nation’s young people, namely to be joyful and exhuberant, and secondly, “to respect their elders, their parents, and the children.”
Impact beyond Papal Visit
“When all young people and children continue to cultivate in their hearts this attitude of respect for others,” Cardinal Da Silva argued, “it will be a big step for us and will make a difference, especially after the Pope’s visit.”
