DILI, East Timor. Pope Francis was met with enthusiastic cheers as he arrived in East Timor on Monday, marking the country’s recovery from a violent struggle for independence. Despite the triumphant welcome, the Pope also indirectly addressed an abuse scandal involving one of the nation’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning figures.
As Francis made his way from the airport into the city, crowds of Timorese citizens lined the streets, waving Vatican and Timorese flags. Many carried yellow and white umbrellas, symbolizing the Holy See, to protect themselves from the blazing midday sun. Cries of “Viva el Papa!” echoed throughout, and the 87-year-old pontiff smiled broadly as he waved from his open vehicle. Billboards across the city featured his image and welcoming messages, underscoring the anticipation of his visit.
East Timor, a predominantly Catholic country, is one of the world’s poorest nations. Its people eagerly awaited the Pope’s visit, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of the United Nations-backed referendum that led to its independence from Indonesia.
In contrast, the last papal visit, by St. John Paul II in 1989, occurred during Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor. After East Timorese citizens overwhelmingly voted for independence in 1999, Indonesia retaliated with a brutal military campaign that ravaged 80% of the country’s infrastructure and claimed as many as 200,000 lives. St. John Paul II’s visit then drew international attention to East Timor’s plight.
Francis’ arrival followed his stop in Papua New Guinea and marks the third leg of his tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. He was greeted at the airport by President Jose Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, both iconic figures in the country’s independence movement.
In his address to the nation’s leaders and other dignitaries, Pope Francis lauded the people of East Timor for overcoming their “greatest suffering and trial” and setting the country on a path of peaceful development. He also commended them for reconciling with Indonesia. However, the Pope acknowledged the current challenges facing the nation, including poverty, emigration, and issues related to alcohol abuse and violence among martial arts gangs.
“Let us also not forget that these children and adolescents have their dignity violated,” the Pope stated, stressing the need to protect young people from abuse. While his comments were general and indirect, they recalled a recent scandal involving Timorese Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, a Nobel laureate and independence hero.
Belo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1996, alongside Ramos-Horta, for his role in advocating for a peaceful resolution to the independence struggle. However, in 2022, the Vatican revealed that Belo had been secretly sanctioned in 2020 for the sexual abuse of young boys. The sanctions restricted his movements and barred him from voluntary contact with minors or travel to East Timor. Despite these measures, many in the country continue to defend Belo, with some even hoping for his presence during the Pope’s visit.
Another figure involved in abuse allegations is American missionary Richard Daschbach, revered for his role in the fight for independence. He is currently serving a 12-year sentence in East Timor for molesting young girls. Daschbach was defrocked by the Catholic Church for his crimes.
In a recent interview, President Ramos-Horta told the Associated Press that Pope Francis’ visit was not the right time to revisit the Church’s scandals. He added that it was up to the Vatican to handle the matter and suggested that raising it now would be akin to “trying someone twice.”
Pope Francis’ remarks about abuse seemed to reflect a delicate balance, acknowledging the issue while respecting the desires of East Timor’s government and faithful. However, the Vatican has yet to fully address what it knew about Belo’s misconduct and when. Bishop Belo retired early from his position in 2002, at the age of 54, and was later sent to Mozambique, where he worked with children. The Vatican’s response to his case, allowing him to quietly retire, has sparked criticism.
Although the Vatican News recognized Belo’s contributions to East Timor’s independence struggle in a recent article, his name was conspicuously absent from the official Vatican handbook provided to the delegation on this trip.
Today, East Timor is one of the most Catholic nations in the world, with approximately 98% of its 1.3 million citizens identifying as Catholic. This marks a dramatic increase from the 20% Catholic population during Indonesia’s 1975 invasion.
Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate a Mass on Tuesday at the same seaside esplanade where St. John Paul II held a massive gathering in 1989. Authorities expect a turnout of 700,000 people, although some estimates from dioceses suggest the number may reach 750,000, with attendees also coming from Indonesia’s West Timor.
As East Timor continues to heal from its past, Pope Francis’ visit serves as a reminder of both the nation’s resilience and the need for ongoing vigilance in addressing new challenges, including the protection of its young people from abuse.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
