No.-Pope Francis arrived in East Timor, a poor and predominantly Catholic country, on Monday for a three-day visit that has sparked great enthusiasm among its 1.3 million inhabitants. It is the second most Catholic country in the world after the Vatican.
Catholic faithful flocked to see Jorge Bergoglio on his trip to Asia’s youngest nation, making pilgrimages from far-flung cities and crossing the border into Indonesia.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of the capital Dili, waving flags in the Vatican’s white and yellow colours as the 87-year-old pontiff was led through the streets flanked by security personnel.
The pope appeared in high spirits after landing from Papua New Guinea for the third leg of a grueling 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, waving and smiling at crowds of devotees trying to catch a glimpse of him.
“It will be a proud moment for me and my family, and I think for all the people of East Timor,” said Nunsia Karmen Maya, 42.
The Pope, in a wheelchair, was given a traditional scarf after arriving at Dili airport, closed to civilian flights for three days, where he was welcomed by an honour guard and President José Ramos-Horta.
He will address the country’s leaders on Monday, but the highlight of his trip will be a mass on Tuesday, which is expected to be attended by 700,000 faithful.
The small coastal town has undergone a costly makeover ahead of the papal visit and authorities have cleared out street vendors and homeless people from areas where Francis will pass, sparking criticism.
Human rights groups say some informal housing was demolished in preparation for the visit.
East Timor, independent since 20 May 2002, is a predominantly Catholic country, neighbouring Indonesia, the nation with the largest number of Muslims in the world.
The history of Southeast Asia’s youngest country, a fledgling democracy of 1.3 million people, was marked by centuries of Portuguese colonisation, nearly 25 years of Indonesian occupation (December 1975-October 1999) and a UN-backed independence referendum.
Francis is the first pope to visit the country, where nearly 98 percent of its 1.3 million inhabitants are Catholic.
The country formally became independent in 2002, emerging from a brutal Indonesian occupation that left more than 200,000 people dead.
The Pope is expected to address the sensitive issue of the paedophilia scandals within the Church, which had a high profile episode in this country.
Bishop Carlos Belo, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 for his work for the independence of East Timor, was sanctioned by the Vatican in 2020, accused of having sexually abused minors for twenty years.
Advocacy groups have called on Francis to speak out on the issue, but his official agenda does not currently include any meetings with victims.
This tour, which has already taken him to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, is the longest and most distant since his election in 2013 and represents a physical challenge for the Argentine Jesuit, who has had recurring health problems in recent years.
The journey will culminate on September 13 in Singapore, the cosmopolitan city-state visited 38 years ago by John Paul II, where only 8% of the population declares itself Catholic.
The trip was planned for 2020, but was postponed due to the Covid pandemic. Until a few weeks ago, doubts persisted in the corridors of the Vatican as to whether the health of the 87-year-old Argentine pope would allow him to undertake such a tour.
Francis, who normally gets around in a wheelchair or with the help of a cane, underwent major abdominal surgery in 2023 and contracted the flu in November, forcing him to cancel his trip to COP28 in Dubai.Infobae.
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2024-09-12 21:12:56
What were the key highlights of Pope Francis’ historic visit to East Timor in September 2024?
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Pope Francis’ Historic Visit to East Timor: A Symbol of Hope and Unity for the Catholic Community
In a landmark event, Pope Francis arrived in East Timor, a predominantly Catholic country, on Monday, September 10, 2024, for a three-day visit that has sparked immense enthusiasm among its 1.3 million inhabitants [[1]]. This historic visit marks the first time a pope has set foot in the country, which is the second most Catholic nation in the world after the Vatican.
The Catholic faithful flocked to see Jorge Bergoglio, also known as Pope Francis, making pilgrimages from far-flung cities and crossing the border into Indonesia. Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of the capital Dili, waving flags in the Vatican’s white and yellow colors as the 87-year-old pontiff was led through the streets flanked by security personnel [[1]].
The Pope appeared in high spirits after landing from Papua New Guinea for the third leg of a grueling 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, waving and smiling at crowds of devotees trying to catch a glimpse of him. “It will be a proud moment for me and my family, and I think for all the people of East Timor,” said Nunsia Karmen Maya, 42 [[1]].
The highlight of his trip will be a mass on Tuesday, which is expected to be attended by an estimated 600,000 faithful, nearly half of the small Southeast Asian country’s population [[2]][[3]]. This massive turnout is a testament to the strong Catholic faith that binds the people of East Timor together.
East Timor, independent since May 20, 2002, has a complex history marked by centuries of Portuguese colonization, nearly 25 years of Indonesian occupation, and a UN-backed independence referendum. The country formally became independent in 2002, emerging from a brutal Indonesian occupation that left more than 200,000 people dead [[1]].
Francis’ visit is not without controversy, however. Human rights groups have criticized the authorities for clearing out street vendors and homeless people from areas where the Pope will pass, as well as the demolition of informal housing in preparation for the visit [[1]]. Additionally, advocacy groups have called on the Pope to speak out on the sensitive issue of paedophilia scandals within the Church, which had a high-profile episode in East Timor involving Bishop Carlos Belo, a Nobel Peace Prize winner who was sanctioned by the Vatican in 2020 [[1]].
Despite these challenges, the Pope’s visit is seen as a symbol of hope and unity for the Catholic community in East Timor. His message of peace, love, and compassion is expected to resonate deeply with the people of this young nation, who have faced immense struggles and hardships in their recent history.
The journey will culminate on September 13 in Singapore, the cosmopolitan city-state visited 38 years ago by John Paul II
Pope Francis in East Timor: A Historic Visit to a Young Catholic Nation
Pope Francis has arrived in East Timor, a poor and predominantly Catholic country, for a three-day visit that has sparked great enthusiasm among its 1.3 million inhabitants. This historic visit marks the first time a pope has set foot in the country, which is the second most Catholic nation in the world after the Vatican.
The Pope’s visit comes at a significant time, as East Timor celebrates its 22nd anniversary of independence from Indonesia. The country’s Catholic faithful have been eagerly awaiting the Pope’s arrival, making pilgrimages from far-flung cities and crossing the border into Indonesia to catch a glimpse of him.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets of the capital Dili, waving flags in the Vatican’s white and yellow colors as the 87-year-old pontiff was led through the streets flanked by security personnel. The Pope appeared in high spirits, waving and smiling at crowds of devotees trying to catch a glimpse of him [[3]].
The highlight of the Pope’s trip will be a mass on Tuesday, which is expected to be attended by 700,000 faithful [[2]]. The small coastal town has undergone a costly makeover ahead of the papal visit, with authorities clearing out street vendors and homeless people from areas where Francis will pass, sparking criticism from human rights groups who claim that some informal housing was demolished in preparation for the visit.
Despite the controversies, the Pope’s visit is seen as a proud moment for the people of East Timor, with many expressing their excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to see the pontiff. “It will be a proud moment for me and my family, and I think for all the people of East Timor,” said Nunsia Karmen Maya, 42.
East Timor’s history is marked by centuries of Portuguese colonization, nearly 25 years of Indonesian occupation, and a UN-backed independence referendum [[1]]. The country formally became independent in 2002, emerging from a brutal Indonesian occupation that left deep scars on its people.
The Catholic Church played a crucial role in East Timor’s struggle for independence, with many clergy members speaking out against the Indonesian occupation and advocating for the rights of the Timorese people. However, the church’s legacy has been stained by its clergy abuse scandal, which has been a source of pain and trauma for many victims.
Despite these challenges, the Pope’s visit is seen as an opportunity for healing and reconciliation, as well as a chance for the Catholic Church to reaffirm its commitment to the people of East Timor. As the Pope meets with the country’s leaders and celebrates mass with the faithful, he will be greeted with open arms and hearts full of joy and gratitude.
Pope Francis’ visit to East Timor is a historic moment that holds great significance for the people of this young Catholic nation. As the Pope brings a message of hope and unity to the Timorese people, he will be welcomed with open arms and celebrated as a symbol of faith and inspiration.
