This is a universal Consistory, with cardinals from the five continents. In fact, three new religious families have joined the College of Cardinals, and four new countries will now be represented, namely Mongolia, Paraguay, Singapore and East Timor, the latter precisely because of the presence of Msgr. Virgílio do Carmo da Silva.
Born Nov. 27, 1967, in Venilale, East Timor, Msgr. Da Silva attended Salesian primary and secondary schools in Fatumaca and then joined the Salesians of Don Bosco. He made his first profession on May 31, 1990, and perpetual profession on March 19, 1997, and was ordained a priest on Dec. 18, 1998. From 1999 to 2004 and again from 2007 to 2014 da Silva was novice master for the Salesians. From 2005 to 2007 he received a licentiate in Spirituality from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome. From 2009 to 2014 he was Rector of the Nossa Senhora de Fátima Technical School in Fatumaca. In 2015 he became Provincial of East Timor and Visitor of Indonesia. On January 30, 2016, he was appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of Dili. In September 2019, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Virgílio do Carmo da Silva as the first Archbishop of East Timor.
To him and to all the new cardinals, the Holy Father spoke of the spirit that must animate their mission, reminding them that in their hearts must find a place in caring for "things both great and small," and the same love both in dealing with "great matters and small ones"; and in dealing with "the great of this world as well as the small."
At the end of the homily, Pope Francis emphasized the universality and attention to individuals to which cardinals are called and whose secret lies in the gaze of Jesus. He, the Pontiff concluded, "calls us by name, and asks: You new cardinal, and all of you brother cardinals, can I count on you?"
The celebration concluded with the formula for the creation of the new cardinals and the listing of their names. Then each of them was given the biretta, zucchetti, cardinal's rings and the bull with the assignment of the Title. Finally, the embrace between Pope Francis and each cardinal was an exchange of words of thanks and greetings and often a brief affectionate personal conversation.
