State authorities and the Catholic Church of Timor-Leste welcomed the mortal remains of three former prelates, D. Jaime Garcia Goulart, D. José Joaquim Ribeiro and monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes, completing the transfer from Portugal. The ceremony to receive the urns took place on Tuesday, September 4, 2026, in Dili, mobilizing thousands of people.
Cardinal Virgílio do Carmo da Silva, Archbishop of Dili, stated that in the darkest moments of Timorese history, during the war and Indonesian occupation, these prelates became "the voice of the voiceless," defending self-determination and human dignity. The Catholic community received the urns with "hearts full of joy, gratitude and spiritual emotion."
The celebrations continued with a Mass at Tasi-Tolu, where D. Norberto do Amaral, President of the Timorese Bishops' Conference, declared that the three shepherds "today return to Timor not physically, but spiritually" and asked forgiveness for the sins committed against them and their legacy.
The transfer had a prior celebration in August at the Archdiocese of Évora, presided over by the apostolic nuncio. The interment is scheduled for September 10 at Dili Cathedral, where the prelates who led the diocese between 1941 and 1983 will be buried alongside D. Alberto Ricardo da Silva. The Manatuto bridge was named after monsignor Martinho da Costa Lopes as a form of tribute.
