Post by Macario Floriano Sanches, Ph.D.

Mount Ramelau (known locally in Tetum as Foho Tatamailau) is the highest mountain in Timor-Leste, standing proud at 2,963 meters above sea level in the Ainaro district. The history of this majestic mountain is a beautiful blend of ancient indigenous traditions, a painful struggle for national independence, and a deeply rooted Catholic faith. At the absolute center of this identity is the serene, white statue of the Virgin Mary, affectionately known as Nossa Senhora de Ramelau or "Mama Mary". The iconic three-meter-tall white alabaster statue of the Virgin Mary was imported from Italy and erected at the peak on October 7, 1997.