Struggle for independence has made Catholic faith stronger in Timor-Leste

By Lisa Zengarini

Pope Francis will be the second pontiff to visit Timor-Leste, after St. John Paul II, who made a brief stop in the capital, Dili, on 12 October 1989, during his Apostolic Journey to the Far East that year.

The Polish Pope's visit drew international attention to the plight of the East Timorese people who at the time were under repressive Indonesian rule.

Preparations

During his three-day visit, Pope Francis is scheduled to meet with local clergy, religious and young people, and to preside over Mass at the Tasi Tolu complex, in Dili, the same site where St. John Paul celebrated Mass 35 years ago.

More than 700,000 faithful from across Timor-Leste and from neighboring Indonesia and other countries are expected to attend.

In the youngest nation in Asia (which attained independence in 2002 after over two decades of struggle and strife, and a UN-backed referendum in 1999), with an overwhelming Catholic majority of over 95%, preparations for the visit are in full swing.

As explained to Fides Agency by Father Bento Pereira, national head of communications and media of the Episcopal Conference of Timor-Leste, the preparation is not only material, but also spiritual.

Catholics are invited to recite a special prayer, and a cycle of catechesis will be offered on Pope Francis’ teachings and the central theme of the visit, "May your faith become your culture."

Link between the Catholic faith and Timorese culture and history

Fr. Graciano Santos Barros, who serves as Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Dili, told Fides that the motto is an invitation to Timorese Catholics to live their faith in harmony with their cultural heritage.

The priest noted that it is also a reminder of the close link between their Catholic faith and the troubled decades of the Indonesian occupation.

“Faith has accompanied each of our steps, in suffering and in hope," he said. “Today, 25 years after the referendum for independence, we can look at our history with a reconciled heart, recognizing the work of God, who has illuminated the minds and hearts of people in many crucial moments."

The history of this former Portuguese colony evangelized in the 16th century is intimately intertwined with the Church, which played a major role during the 25 years of struggle for self-determination.

The Church sought to be close to the suffering East Timorese people and denounced the atrocities committed by the Indonesian occupying army, while working for peace and reconciliation.  

Timorese Church's major role in struggle for independence 

The names of the former Apostolic Administrators of Dili, Bishops Martino Da Costa Lopes, Alberto Ricardo da Silva, and Carlos Ximenes Belo, SDB, are still impressed in the memory of the Timorese people. 

This commitment to supporting non-violent struggle earned Salesian Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, which he shared with the independence leader and future President José Ramos Horta.

Also at that time nuns, priests, catechists and religious  played a crucial role by showing their closeness to the people suffering.

“They were always close, they shared our destiny,“ Fr. Barros said.

Catholics make up 95 % of the population

This closeness and support have translated into a significant increase of the number of Catholics in Timor-Leste, who today make up some 95 percent of its population of 1.4 million.

This shows how, “in times of oppression, faith was a fundamental pillar for the people,” said Fr. Barros. “With an open heart, the people of East Timor, understood and perceived within themselves that the Gospel was the only way, the only salvation: they cried out to the Lord, they trusted in Him and the Lord heard their prayers, and He did not abandon them but guided them towards their promised land.”