Mass with Pope Francis draws a large crowd from East Timor

In the sweltering heat of Tuesday, an estimated 600,000 individuals in East Timor, which is just under half of the country’s population, attended a Mass with Pope Francis at a coastal park that is associated with the country’s protracted struggle for independence from Indonesia.

Many individuals endured the scorching sun for hours in temperatures as high as 32 degrees Celsius (90°F) as they arrived at the wide, dusty area where Indonesian forces had buried slain Timorese independence fighters at 1 a.m. and reclined on the ground.

In one of the largest-ever turnouts as a proportion of a country’s population for a Mass during a papal visit, numerous individuals sought comfort under umbrellas adorned with the white and yellow colors of the Vatican flag. Others carried signs requesting benediction and sang local melodies.

Rev. Pedro Amaral, one of the hundreds of priests who celebrated the Mass, stated that he traveled with 800 of his parishioners from Zumalai, a village located approximately 140 km (85 miles) distant.

The priest expressed his joy, stating, “We never anticipated that we would have the opportunity to meet the Pope.”

Jamie Belo, a 60-year-old school instructor, stated that he departed his residence 12 hours prior to Mass in order to reserve a seat to see the pope.

East Timor, a former Portuguese colony, is a half-island nation located north of Australia. It is one of only two predominantly Catholic countries in Asia. The population of East Timor is 1.3 million.

The Vatican estimated that 600,000 individuals attended the Mass on Tuesday. The majority of individuals in the crowd on the outskirts of Dili, the capital, appeared to be youthful. Mothers and fathers were either holding their babies or having their children cling to their legs.

‘REJECTED WITH LIFE’

According to the United Nations, the 1975-99 conflict with Indonesia resulted in the deaths of at least 102,800 individuals in East Timor, or Timor-Leste. Official estimates indicate that the median age of the population is currently 20 years.

“How wonderful that here in Timor-Leste there are so many children!” Francis stated during his homily for the Mass, gazing out at the audience.

“Indeed, you are a young country, and we can see every corner of your land teeming with life.”

Francis appeared to reiterate his previous cautionary statements regarding the imposition of Western liberal values on the rest of the world in his spontaneous remarks at the conclusion of the event.

Noting that certain beaches in Timor are home to crocodiles, he cautioned the audience, “Be cautious of those crocodiles that seek to alter your culture and history.”

The pope’s journey to East Timor is the culmination of a 12-day, four-country tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, which is his most extensive to date.

The Vatican estimates that approximately 96% of Timorese are Catholic, making it the most Catholic nation in the globe.

Cardinal Carmo da Silva, the archbishop of Dili, conveyed his “profound gratitude” to Francis in his post-Mass remarks. He stated that the pope’s visit “signifies a critical milestone in the development of our nation, its identity, and its culture.”

Francis toured the large gathering in an open-top popemobile after the Mass, waving and offering his blessing.

Francis is the first pontiff to visit East Timor in 35 years, following John Paul II, whose visit provided the country’s independence movement with a historic boost.

‘Peace Park’

John Paul also celebrated Mass at the Tasitolu, which is now a protected area and “Peace Park” that provides a view of the northern coast of the island, similar to Francis.

During the occupation, John Paul’s Mass concluded with a brief chair-throwing skirmish between police officers and anti-government demonstrators. The deceased pontiff was not injured.

Francis’ visit, which occurred on the 25th anniversary of the independence referendum, was at times reminiscent of an enormous celebration.

Throughout Tuesday, crowds congregated in the streets of Dili for kilometers (miles) to observe the pope’s activities, which included a meeting with Catholic bishops at the cathedral and a visit with disabled children at a local Catholic school.

The 87-year-old pontiff, who was compelled to use a wheelchair due to knee and back discomfort, frequently rolled near the rope lines outside his events.

He was surrounded by individuals who caressed his hands, kissed his silver papal ring, or offered him a tais, a traditional woven scarf, to wear. Additionally, tiny drums were played by dancers who wore feathered headdresses.

The Mass, which was the most significant papal event since Francis’ visit to Portugal for the Catholic Church’s World Youth Day festival last year, included passages in Portuguese, Tetum, and five other local languages.

Francis is currently in East Timor until Wednesday as part of a voyage that also encompassed Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. He will then proceed to Singapore before returning to Rome on September 13.