Pope Francis in East Timor for Mass Expected to Attract Half the Population, According to Reuters

Pope Francis Visits East Timor Amid Celebrations and Challenges

By Joshua McElwee

DILI – Pope Francis arrived in East Timor on Monday for a three-day visit to the predominantly Catholic nation in Southeast Asia. The Vatican anticipates that an open-air Mass celebration during his visit could draw more than half of the population, approximately 1.3 million people.

At 87 years old, the pontiff is undertaking an ambitious 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, marking his longest overseas journey to date. This visit to East Timor, one of two majority Catholic countries in Asia, represents only the second papal visit to the nation.

The pope arrived from Papua New Guinea, where he provided medical supplies to a small town situated near a vast jungle, one of the most remote areas globally. Upon landing in East Timor’s capital, Dili, he was greeted at the airport by President Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta, along with two young women in traditional attire who presented him with flowers and a tais, a ceremonial woven scarf that the pope donned briefly.

As he departed in a white, open-top vehicle, tens of thousands of people crowded the city blocks surrounding the airport. Many attendees shielded themselves from the sun in the 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit) heat with umbrellas decorated in the Vatican’s distinctive white and yellow colors.

East Timor, an island nation north of Australia, achieved independence from Indonesia in 2002 after enduring a brutal occupation that lasted for decades. This marks the first papal visit in 35 years, following that of John Paul II, which significantly boosted the nation’s independence movement.

During a speech addressed to about 400 politicians, diplomats, and civic leaders shortly after his arrival, Pope Francis acknowledged the "greatest suffering and trial" that East Timor has faced. "We give thanks to God, since you never lost hope … and after dark and difficult days, a dawn of peace and freedom has finally arrived," he stated.

President Ramos-Horta expressed gratitude to the pope and highlighted the necessity of his voice in an increasingly harsh world where dialogue and peace have been overshadowed by indifference.

East Timor, previously a Portuguese colony until 1975, is reportedly one of the most Catholic countries in the world, with roughly 96% of its population adhering to the faith. Organizers are expecting around 750,000 people to attend the Mass with the pope on Tuesday at Tasitolu, a coastal area where Indonesian forces buried independence fighters.

Since gaining independence, East Timor has faced significant challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure and economy. The Asian Development Bank reported last year that nearly 30% of the workforce earns less than $2.15 per day, while the World Bank estimated that 47% of children suffer from stunting due to malnutrition. The pope emphasized the need for collective and comprehensive action to tackle these economic difficulties.

Despite the high levels of Catholic adherence, the Church in East Timor has recently been marred by abuse scandals. In 2022, the Vatican confirmed that it had sanctioned Timorese Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo following allegations of sexual abuse against boys in the 1990s. Belo, who resides in Portugal and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 alongside Ramos-Horta for their independence efforts, accepted restrictions on his movements and ministry.

In a separate case, a defrocked American priest, Richard Daschbach, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually abusing underage girls in his care.

A prominent advocacy group for abuse survivors urged Pope Francis to address these cases directly during his visit. Anne Barrett Doyle of the group remarked, "The pope must denounce the two men by name. His words could have an enormous positive impact."

While he did not specifically address the scandals in his remarks on Monday, the pope spoke about youth violence and the risks posed by gangs, stating, "We are all called to do everything possible to prevent every kind of abuse and guarantee a healthy and peaceful childhood for all young people."

Pope Francis will be in East Timor until Wednesday as part of his tour, which also includes a stop in Indonesia, before he travels to Singapore and then returns to Rome on September 13.