On September 10, 2025, the Catholic Church in East Timor celebrated a thanksgiving Mass at the Tasi-Tolu Esplanade, marking the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ historic visit, a pivotal moment for the nation’s faithful.
“The presence of Pope Francis was a blessing for our country. His visit strengthened our faith, renewed our hope, and left an indelible mark on our hearts,” said Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva, SDB, Archbishop of Dili, who presided over the Mass.
Bishop Leandro Maria Alves of Baucau, Monsignor Marcel Šmejkal, Counselor to the Apostolic Nunciature in Timor-Leste, and hundreds of priests concelebrated the liturgy. Parishioners from the dioceses of Baucau, Maliana, and Dili, along with diocesan priests, religious, government officials, mothers’ groups, brothers, and civil and military leaders, also participated.
“Today, we gather once again at Tasi-Tolu, a place marked by two great historical events that reveal the faith of the Timorese people and place our nation on the world map,” said Cardinal da Silva. “In 1989, the Timorese showed the world that they are faithful, united, and determined in their struggle for self-determination.”
He added, “We are here today as a small people of God in Timor, united as a Church, offering to God the Holy Mass in thanksgiving for the presence of Pope Francis among us.”
According to the cardinal, Pope Francis’ presence last year not only strengthened the faith of the Timorese but also inspired the people to embrace Gospel values more deeply in their culture and daily life. “This light of the Gospel will illuminate our culture and our traditions, so that the values of the Gospel may live in our hearts and transform us into one faith,” he said.
Pope Francis visited East Timor from September 9 to 11, 2024, as part of his Apostolic Journey to Asia and Oceania. It was his first visit to the predominantly Catholic nation since its independence in 2002.
On September 10, 2024, the pope celebrated a historic outdoor Mass at Tasi-Tolu in Dili, drawing an estimated 600,000 people, nearly half the country’s population. His 12-day Asia-Pacific tour included stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, and East Timor. It was the first papal visit to the nation in 35 years, following Saint John Paul II’s landmark 1989 trip.
During the Mass, Pope Francis highlighted children and youth as blessings for the nation, reflecting East Timor’s youthful population. In his closing remarks, he also urged vigilance against harmful outside influences, cautioning against “crocodiles” that might attempt to alter the country’s history and culture.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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