
Thu Sep 12 08:21:57 UTC 2024: ## Pope Francis Receives Hero’s Welcome in East Timor, Raising Issues of Abuse
**Dili, East Timor** – Pope Francis was met with a joyous welcome in East Timor on Tuesday, with an estimated 600,000 people attending an open-air Mass. The visit, the penultimate stop of his Asian tour, marked the first papal visit to the country since its independence in 2002.
The crowds, many of whom had waited for hours to catch a glimpse of the pontiff, were a testament to the deep Catholic faith in East Timor, where 97% of the population identifies as Catholic. The pope’s homily praised the large number of children in the country, a theme he has touched upon throughout his trip, emphasizing the importance of families.
However, the visit also shone a light on the ongoing issue of clerical sexual abuse. Recent revelations of abuse by high-profile East Timor clergy have cast a shadow over the trip. In his address to political authorities, Pope Francis called for an end to “every kind of abuse” to protect children.
The issue of sexual abuse in the church is particularly sensitive in East Timor, where the Catholic Church played a vital role in the country’s struggle for independence from Indonesia. This role, combined with the government’s history of mishandling abuse cases, has made victims hesitant to come forward.
The Vatican acknowledged in 2020 that it had sanctioned Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, after allegations of sexual abuse emerged. While the Pope has addressed the issue of abuse in other countries during past trips, it remains to be seen whether he will directly address it in East Timor.
The visit highlights the growing influence of the Catholic Church in Asia, as well as the ongoing challenges it faces in dealing with the issue of sexual abuse.