Thousands mourn archbishop's death

JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of mourning Catholics flocked yesterday to the El Tari Airport in East Nusa Tenggara capital of Kupang to meet the body of Kupang Archbishop Mgr. Gregorius Monteiro SVD, who died Friday in Jakarta at the age of 73.

Antara reported that people wept as soon as the Merpati plane carrying the bishop's body landed at 11:15 a.m. yesterday.

Chairman of the local office of Indonesian Council of Ulemas H.O.S. Badjide and a number of religious leaders, local officials and military officers were on hand to pay their respects.

"He was a good shepherd, a dynamic leader of the Catholic congregation in Kupang," said Vice Governor Piet Tallo.

Mgr. Petrus Turang, the Coadjutor Bishop of Kupang, automatically replaces Monteiro. He was seen yesterday kissing a picture of the deceased.

Monteiro's body was placed in the airport waiting room for about 15 minutes, during which time a mass was held for him. The body was then taken in a slow procession to St. Maria Assumpta Church in Kota Baru, 10 kilometers west of the airport.

The body will be taken today to the St. Joseph Naikoten II Church, and later moved to the Christ the King Cathedral, before burial on Tuesday.

The new archbishop, Turang, said Monteiro died of a lung disease and other ailments, Antara reported.

In 1993, Monteiro sought medical attention in Germany for his vocal cords, but never fully recovered. Even then, he continued with his religious duties, Turang said.

Monteiro was born on March 12, 1924, in Larantuka, the capital of East Flores. He was ordained in 1951.

He was ordained Kupang Bishop in 1967. In 1989, the Kupang diocese was upgraded to archdiocese, covering Kupang and Timor Tengah Selatan dioceses, and Monteiro became Kupang Archbishop. (swe)