East Timor Turns Out in Force for Mass with Pope Francis, Reports Reuters

By Joshua McElwee

DILI (Reuters) – In a remarkable show of devotion, approximately 600,000 people from East Timor, nearly half of its population, gathered under the scorching sun on Tuesday for a Mass with Pope Francis at a coastal park that symbolizes the country’s enduring fight for independence from Indonesia.

Attendees filled a dusty area where Indonesian forces are known to have buried fallen Timorese freedom fighters, arriving as early as 1 a.m. Many spent hours sitting on the ground, enduring heat that reached 32 degrees Celsius (90°F). While some found shade under umbrellas adorned with the Vatican’s white and yellow colors, others made their way through the crowd holding signs requesting blessings and joyfully singing traditional songs, creating one of the largest turnouts for a papal Mass relative to a country’s population.

Rev. Pedro Amaral was among hundreds of priests celebrating the Mass; he traveled with 800 parishioners from Zumalai, a village situated about 140 kilometers (85 miles) away. “I am so happy because we never thought we would see the pope,” he expressed.

Jamie Belo, a 60-year-old school teacher, revealed he left his home 12 hours prior to the Mass to secure a good spot to see the pope. East Timor, a half-island nation of 1.3 million just north of Australia, is one of only two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia.

The Vatican reported that 600,000 attended the Mass, most of whom appeared to be young, with many parents holding babies or managing children around their legs.

“HERE IN TIMOR-LESTE THERE ARE SO MANY CHILDREN!”

During his homily, Pope Francis remarked, “How wonderful that here in Timor-Leste there are so many children!” He acknowledged the youthfulness of the country and the vibrant life present in its corners.

In off-the-cuff comments following the service, he reiterated cautions against imposing Western values on different cultures. He metaphorically warned the crowd about the “crocodiles” that threaten to disrupt their traditions and history.

This visit to East Timor is part of Pope Francis’s ambitious 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, marking his longest journey to date. The Vatican claims that around 96% of Timorese people practice Catholicism, making it one of the most Catholic countries globally.

Cardinal Carmo da Silva, the archbishop of Dili, expressed deep gratitude to Francis after the Mass, saying that the visit signifies an important milestone in the nation’s journey towards shaping its identity and culture.

After the Mass, Pope Francis traversed the large crowd in an open-top popemobile, waving and blessing attendees. His visit marks the first by a pope in 35 years, following John Paul II, whose previous visit in 1989 significantly boosted East Timor’s independence movement.

Located at Tasitolu, now a designated “Peace Park,” Pope John Paul II also celebrated Mass overlooking the island’s northern waters. That occasion ended in a chaotic scene as demonstrators clashed with police, though the pope remained unharmed.

Pope Francis’s visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of East Timor’s independence vote and had a festive atmosphere. Large crowds formed along the streets of Dili to observe the pope’s various activities, including a meeting with Catholic bishops and a visit with disabled children at a local school.

Despite being 87 years old and using a wheelchair due to mobility issues, the pontiff engaged warmly with those gathered, shaking hands, receiving kisses on his papal ring, and accepting traditional woven scarves known as tais. Dancers in vibrant attire accompanied him with drumming.

The Mass, the largest papal event since last year’s visit to Portugal for World Youth Day, included readings in Portuguese, Tetum, and five other local languages.

Pope Francis will remain in East Timor until Wednesday before continuing his journey, which also includes stops in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, with the final leg leading him to Singapore before his return to Rome on September 13.