Pope set for huge East Timor mass, half of nation expected

DILI - Pope Francis was set to hold one of the biggest masses of his papacy on Tuesday in East Timor, with more than half of the country's 1.3 million people expected to attend.

The 87-year-old pontiff landed to a rock star welcome Monday in capital Dili, where tens of thousands of jubilant devotees lined the streets, screaming and waving flags as he drove through the seaside city.

"I am so happy for everyone in East Timor. Now I want to see Papa Francisco here, and give my present to Papa Francisco. I am so emotional," said Mary Michaela, 17, who said she would attend the pope's Tuesday mass.

The pope has so far appeared in good health during the gruelling 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific that has taken in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and will conclude in Singapore.

On his first day in East Timor he addressed the country's leaders, hailing a new era of "peace" since independence in 2002, but called on them to prevent abuse against young people in a nod to recent Catholic church child abuse scandals.

But the main event of his trip to the Catholic-majority country will be the mass in Dili's wetland area of Tasitolu.

Tens of thousands had already gathered there early on Tuesday, holding yellow-and-white umbrellas with the Vatican logo to protect themselves from the beating sun.

"I am grateful I can join this Holy Mass regardless of my age. I don't know if I would still be able to come if the Pope visited even a few years later," said 49-year-old housewife Felicidade do Rosario.

Around 300,000 people have officially registered for the mass, but hundreds of thousands more are expected outside, bringing an expected total of between 700,000 and 750,000, according to the Vatican and organisers.

The sheer number of people caused at least one local telecom company to inform customers their signal would be affected by the pope's visit.

In 2023, around a million people congregated in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa for Pope Francis' visit.

The record is still held by Philippine capital Manila in 2015 where more than six million people are believed to have gathered to see Francis.

COST CRITICISM

In a speech to the Catholic faithful at a cathedral in Dili, Francis called for the "perfume of the Gospel" to be spread against alcoholism, violence and a lack of respect for women.

The rest of the pope's schedule on Tuesday includes meetings with Jesuits and children with disabilities.

"It is a pride to us. It is a blessing of God to us, the people in this land," said Atanasio Sarmento de Sousa, a 46-year-old member of the committee organising the pope's visit.

Thousands of people were already packing the streets on the pope's route to his first meeting early on Tuesday.

It is only the second papal visit to the country, where around 98 percent of the population is Catholic, since John Paul II.

East Timor's capital had a $12 million makeover before the visit and that includes $1 million spent on the pope's altar, where he will sit on stage next to a crucifix.

The cost has courted some criticism as East Timor is one of the poorest countries in the world.

Rights groups also say some makeshift homes were demolished in preparation for the mass in the area where it will be held. The government says they were erected illegally.

Authorities have also relocated street vendors in areas where Francis will travel, prompting further censure on social media.

One street vendor Januario Soares, 40, told AFP several days ago police arrived at his stall selling second-hand clothes and attacked him and others.

"They came to take the goods we were selling, then they immediately used violence on us," he said.

But others who had travelled to see the pope were more optimistic about the occasion.

"There are still many problems that need to be taken care of, but the pope has come here to bring joyful news," said Felix Kosat, an Indonesian Catholic priest.

"So let's make changes."