On the resignation of Martinho da Costa Lopes in 1983, Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Dili diocese, becoming head of the East Timor church and directly responsible to the Pope.
Ketika Martinho da Costa Lopes mengundurkan diri pada 1983, Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo ditunjuk Administratur Apostolik Diosis Dili menjadi pemimpin Gereja Timor Timur dan bertanggung jawab secara langsung kepada Paus.