Pope Francis arrived at 2:14 pm (07:14 am from Rome) at Dili airport, capital of East Timor, on September 9, 2024, after an almost three-hour flight from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The Pontiff will spend three days in this young country with the most Catholic population in the world (after the Vatican); in fact tens of thousands of Timorese lined the roads to welcome the Pope. This is the third leg of the Pontiff's journey across Asia and Oceania; the last stop will be Singapore.
Lowered onto the tarmac in his wheelchair by an elevator, Pope Francis was greeted with honors by two children in traditional dress, who presented him with flowers and the country's traditional scarf, the tais. The president of the republic, Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta, winner of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, then welcomed him, accompanied by the country's prime minister, Xanana Gusmão.
In an airport lounge, the Pope spoke briefly with the president and prime minister, then drove to the nunciature, where he will stay for the duration of his trip.
Pope Francis’ landing on Timorese soil caused a frenzy as soon as he stepped off the plane, with many locals trying to reach out and touch him.
A historic moment
The Pontiff's presence is a historic day for this small country, located at the eastern end of the Sunda Islands, as it is the first visit from a pope since the nation gained its independence in 2002.
In 1989, Pope John Paul II visited the country in the midst of the Indonesian occupation. It was a highly sensitive trip during which he lent his support to the population without taking a stand against Indonesia.
On his way to Dili, the Argentinian Pontiff rode in the popemobile through an impressive and joyful crowd. Thousands of flags in the colors of East Timor and the Vatican accompanied the journey to the city center. Horns, drums, songs, and shouts immersed the papal convoy in a spectacular atmosphere, which at times jostled the security services, who were also assisted by numerous volunteer scouts.
The Pope’s schedule in East Timor
This afternoon local time, Pope Francis will attend a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, followed by a private meeting with the President of the Republic. He will then address the country's authorities.
Tomorrow, Tuesday, September 10, the Pope will visit children with disabilities in a school, before meeting the country's religious representatives in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He will also meet a group of Jesuits in private at the Nunciature, before ending the day with a Mass celebrated on the Taci Tolu esplanade, which is expected to gather around 700,000 people, according to the authorities.
The following day, September 11, he will meet with a group of young people at a convention center before taking off for the last stop of his trip, Singapore, at 11:15 a.m. local time, 4:15 a.m. Rome time.
The Pope’s days in Papua New Guinea
Pope Francis spent three days in Papua New Guinea, where he encouraged the population of this small country on the periphery of the world. In the capital, Port Moresby, he met with the political representatives and authorities, with a group of disabled and disadvantaged children, with the local Catholic community and with some young people.
“A people that prays has a future, drawing strength and hope from above,” the Pope said to the political authorities, evoking the theme of the trip, which was simply “pray,” on September 7.
He celebrated a Mass on December 8 for 35,000 people that traveled long distances by boat, plane, or on foot to see Francis.
The Pope assured the Papua New Guineans that, despite the geographical remoteness of their land “on the edge of the world,” they are “at the center [of] the heart” of God.
On the afternoon of September 8 he in fact also left the capital to spend a couple of hours in the remote northern town of Vanimo with the local community and the missionaries that serve it.
