Press Release; PM Taur Matan Ruak congratulates Metropolitan Archbishop of Dili on the imposition of the pallium by the Holly See
Dili, August 24th, 2020: His Excellency the Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak, on behalf of the 8th Constitutional Government, congratulated the Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dili, The Most Reverend Excellency Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, SDB, who, in the last Sunday, received the pallium, from the Holy See, by the President of the Timorese Episcopal Conference, The Most Reverend Dom Norberto Amaral. The imposition of the pallium was carried out during the celebration of Sunday Mass, in the Cathedral of Nossa Senhora da Imaculada Conceição, in Dili.
“On behalf of the 8th Constitutional Government, and on my personal name, I would like to congratulate the Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dili, The Most Reverend Dom Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, SDB, who, yesterday, received the pallium, from the Holy See. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the ceremony, due to my health condition, but I want to express my best wishes of success”, said Prime Minister, Taur Matan Ruak
The pallium is a symbol of communion of the Archbishops with the Supreme Pontiff and the Throne of Peter. The pallium, as soon as it is made, is kept near the tomb of Saint Peter (at the altar of confession of Saint Peter’s Basilica, in Rome), until the solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, when the imposition ceremony takes place to the new Archbishop, appointed during that year. In the case of Archbishops who are unable to participate in the celebrations, the pallium remains deposited in the tomb of Saint Peter, until the delivery may happen.
The pallium – derived from the Latin (pallium, cape) is made from the wool of two lambs that are blessed by the Pope in the liturgical ceremony of St. Agnes. The pallium consists of two lambskins ornamented with black crosses. Archbishops wear the pallium on their shoulders and crossed on their chest, symbolizing the archbishop as a shepherd.
The attribution of the pallium also demonstrates the Archbishop’s authority over the Archdiocese. The archbishop is a bishop of an important city (metropolis) and who also manages of neighboring dioceses, in case of vacancy (death or resignation of the bishop). Therefore, archbishops can use their pallium in all celebrations they preside over, or where they co-celebrate, in the archdiocese or in the suffragan diocese. END