Archbishop of Díli
Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, S.D.B., Metropolitan Archbishop of Díli (East Timor), was born on 27 November 1967 in Venilale, in the Diocese of Baucau. After primary and secondary school with the Salesians in Fatumaca, he entered the Salesian Society of Don Bosco. He was then sent to study philosophy and theology in Manila. He made his first profession with the Salesians on 31 May 1990, and his perpetual profession on 19 March 1997. He was ordained a priest on 18 December 1998. After priestly ordination he held the following positions: 1999-2004: formator of novices; 2004-2005: treasurer of the Formation House in Venilale and parish vicar; 2005-2007: studies in Rome for a licentiate in spirituality at the Salesian Pontifical University; 2007-2014: master of novices; 2009-2014: and director of the Salesian House and Don Bosco Technical High School in Fatumaca. In 2015, he was selected provincial of the Salesians for his province. On 30 January 2016, the Holy Father Francis appointed him Bishop of Díli, East Timor. On 11 September 2019, the Holy Father appointed him the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Díli (the Diocese having been elevated to a Metropolitan Archdiocese). He was created and proclaimed a Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 27 August 2022, and was assigned the titular church S. Alberto Magno. Member of: Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.