Pope Francis said, "I fell in love with East Timor" on September 13 at an in-flight news conference following his nearly two-week tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania, reports EWTN News.
Pope Francis delivered a powerful homily to over 600,000 faithful gathered at the Esplanade of Tasi Tolu in Timor-Leste, weaving together the nation’s rich cultural heritage with his message of humility, service, and divine love.
After a three-day visit to Timor-Leste, Pope Francis spoke with young people and encouraged them to take responsibility and lead the future of their nation in Tasi-Tolu, Dili, Timor-Leste, on September 11.
Pope Francis warned the clergy against pride and the pursuit of social prestige, urging them to remain humble and serve as ministers of compassion and instruments of God’s mercy.
Pope Francis delivered a powerful address at the Presidential Palace, Dili, Timor Leste, urging the nation to harness its deep-rooted Catholic faith to tackle pressing challenges such as poverty and inequality on September 9.
During his address to the authorities, civil society, and diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace in Dili on September 9, Pope Francis emphasized the enduring role of faith in shaping the identity and future of Timor-Leste.
After meeting all the young people in Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis departs for Timor Leste, where he will begin the third phase of his Apostolic Journey through Southeast Asia and Oceania.
The Vatican, with a population of 526 as of July 3 according to Worldometer, is 100 percent Catholic. But unlike Timor-Leste, the Vatican is not a member of the UN.
In a press note on April 12, he said, “Pope Francis' official confirmation of the much-awaited visit to Timor-Leste fills the President of the Republic and all the people of Timor-Leste with joy.”
Father Phoung has an amazing zeal and capacity to motivate the local community to build from scratch and to trust in the providence of God, who takes care of His church.
Pope Francis is scheduled to visit Timor Leste in 2022. The Vatican's Apostolic Nuncio to Timor-Leste, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, has confirmed this information, as released by Tatoli News on March 1, 2022.
