Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Dili
Catedral da Imaculada Conceição
A cathedral completed in 1988 and consecrated the following year by Pope John Paul II. It is the center of religious life in this predominantly Catholic nation.
About 97% of East Timor's population is Catholic, and during the occupation the Church was an important protector of the people. The cathedral was completed in 1988 under Indonesian rule and was billed at the time as one of the largest Catholic churches in Southeast Asia. Pope John Paul II consecrated it during his visit to East Timor in 1989. The church has a white, modern exterior and a spacious, bright interior. Sunday Masses draw worshippers in their finest clothing, offering a glimpse of local religious life. Visitors should wear long trousers or skirts and stay quiet during Mass. Located in western Dili, free of charge.
Opening hours
About 06:00-18:00 (visits excluded during Mass)
Nearby sights
- Tais Market
- Motael Church (Saint Anthony of Padua)
- Dili Waterfront & Harbour Lighthouse
- Timorese Resistance Archive & Museum
- Government Palace, Dili
- Chega! Exhibition Centre (Former Comarca Balide Prison)
- Santa Cruz Cemetery
- Dare WWII Memorial Museum