Pope Francis has made a heartfelt call for the protection of young people during his visit to Timor-Leste. This visit is part of his tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania.
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Pope Francis has recently visited Timor-Leste, a country in Southeast Asia. His visit is part of a larger tour through Asia and Oceania.
On Monday, the Pope landed in Dili, the capital city. He spoke to officials and said, "Let us not forget the many children and adolescents whose dignity has been violated." He urged everyone to do everything possible to prevent abuse and ensure a safe, happy childhood for all kids.
Controversy Surrounds the Visit
The Pope’s visit is important because of some recent news. A well-known bishop, Carlos Ximenes Belo, is accused of abusing young boys in the 1980s and 90s.
Belo was a hero in Timor-Leste’s fight for independence. The Vatican knew about these accusations in 2019 and took action in 2020 to limit Belo’s movements and ban him from contacting minors.
The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests has asked Pope Francis to use Church funds to help the victims. They feel justice has not been served. The Pope’s schedule does not include meetings with these victims, and it is unclear if Belo will be with him in Dili.
The Pope also praised Timor-Leste for its progress. He spoke about the country’s new "peace and freedom" after gaining independence from Indonesia two decades ago. He thanked the people for staying hopeful and strong during tough times, saying, "A dawn of peace and freedom has finally dawned."
As the Pope traveled through Dili, tens of thousands of people cheered and waved flags. More than 700,000 people, over half of Timor-Leste’s population, are expected to attend the open-air mass near Dili on Tuesday.
Local Controversies
The visit has caused some problems. Authorities have demolished homes and evicted people from the area where the mass will be held. Many residents, like Zerita Correia, are unhappy because they now have to find new places to live while their children go to school nearby.
These homes were in Tasitolu, a wetland area outside the capital where many people had moved in looking for work.
The government says they were squatting and had no right to live there. Officials had warned residents about the plans in September 2023. Critics also question spending a lot of money on the visit, including $1 million for a new altar, while many people in Timor-Leste live in poverty.
This is the first time a Pope has visited Timor-Leste since Pope John Paul II in 1989 when the country was under Indonesian rule. Today, nearly 97% of Timor-Leste’s people are Catholic, up from 20% in 1975. Pope Francis will finish his tour in Singapore later this week.
Pope Francis’s visit to Timor-Leste highlights important issues about protecting children and the challenges facing the country.
