DILI, Timor-Leste: Pope Francis arrived in Timor-Leste on Monday for a three-day visit to the predominantly Catholic nation, marking his longest overseas journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The 87-year-old pontiff was greeted in the Timorese capital, Dili, by President Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta, school children in traditional attire, and tens of thousands of citizens lining the streets, many holding umbrellas in Vatican colors to shield from the heat.
Timor-Leste, which gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 after a lengthy occupation, is one of the most Catholic nations globally, with about 96% of its population adhering to the faith. Pope Francis is the second pope to visit the country, following John Paul II’s historic 1989 visit that supported Timor-Leste’s independence movement.
On Tuesday, Pope Francis will lead an open-air Mass at Tasitolu, a site with historical significance tied to the country’s independence struggle, with an expected attendance of 750,000 people.
However, the Catholic Church in Timor-Leste has faced recent scandals involving sexual abuse by clergy members. Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and American priest Richard Daschbach have been implicated in abuse cases.
The Vatican sanctioned Belo in 2022 for allegedly abusing boys in the 1990s, while Daschbach was sentenced to 12 years in prison for abusing girls. Advocacy groups are urging Pope Francis to address these issues openly, believing his condemnation could have a positive impact.
Pope Francis’ visit to Timor-Leste is part of his larger Southeast Asia tour, which includes stops in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Singapore. His visit highlights both the strength and challenges of the Catholic Church in the region, emphasizing his ongoing mission of reconciliation and justice.
