Pope visits heavily Catholic East Timor to support its post-independence healing

Pope Francis made a visit to East Timor on Monday with the intention to support the country in overcoming its troubled past and to celebrate its progress after gaining independence from Indonesian rule 20 years ago. This visit marked the third leg of the Pope’s tour through Southeast Asia and Oceania, following his arrival from Papua New Guinea. The Pope is scheduled to hold meetings with Timorese leaders and diplomats during his time in Dili.

East Timor, predominantly a Catholic nation and one of the world’s poorest countries, eagerly anticipated Pope Francis’s arrival, coinciding with the recent commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the U.N.-backed plebiscite that led to the country’s independence from Indonesia. Estevão Tei Fernandes, a university professor, expressed hopes that the Pope’s visit would help strengthen unity, peace, and development in the nation.

Pope Francis’s visit differs significantly from Pope St. John Paul II’s visit in 1989, which occurred during East Timor’s occupation by Indonesia. During that time, the people of East Timor faced a lengthy and bloody struggle for freedom, with casualties estimated at around 200,000 lives lost. The Pope is expected to address this difficult chapter in the country’s history and also acknowledge the efforts of individuals like Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, who played a crucial role in advocating for East Timor’s independence alongside the Catholic Church.

Bishop Belo, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 1996 along with José Ramos-Horta, the current president of East Timor, was recognized for his courageous stance against Indonesian forces and his dedication to achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, in 2022, the Vatican disclosed that it had imposed sanctions on Belo in 2020 due to allegations of sexual abuse of minors. Despite these sanctions, a number of individuals in East Timor have continued to support Belo, some even expressing a desire for his presence during Pope Francis’s visit.

The Vatican reconfirmed the imposed restrictions on Belo, which include limitations on his movements and ministry activities, reaffirming them just before Pope Francis’s trip. The Pope’s visit to East Timor is expected to address both the country’s journey to independence and the challenges it has faced, including the sensitive issue involving Bishop Belo.