Dili (East Timor). On 21 April 2025, at the news of the death of Pope Francis, the people of East Timor were very shocked and saddened. The memory of his presence among them is still fresh in their hearts because only seven months have passed since his visit to this Country, that took place from 9 to 11 September 2024.
For six days the people remained in mourning and, with the support of the government, almost all normal work activities and initiatives did not take place. All Christians demonstrated their love for the Pope by offering the prayer of the rosary and Mass every day at the monument of Our Lady of the Immaculate, in Lecidere, Dili.
As in September, the organizing commission of the Church and the government entrusted to the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello Province (TIN) the preparation of the altar of Tasi Tolu, which Pope Francis had blessed and from which he had celebrated the Eucharist on 10 September in front of 600,000 people, and the floral decorations.
This commitment was made by the four FMA communities of Dili, in particular by Sister Sanzinha De Jesus, Sister Angelita Gomes, Sister Luisa Fernandes Lopes, assisted by the postulants and novices. The Prime Minister of the government was present at Tasi Tolu to encourage and accompany the preparations.
The Christians of the capital Dili, on the nights of the days of mourning, lit candles and prayed to Tasi Tolu. Although the body of the Pope was buried in Rome, the people of Timor feel very close, for this reason many cried, remembering the goodness and love they saw and received during his visit. All the people of Timor, beginning with the three dioceses and each parish, have asked to celebrate a Mass in suffrage for the Holy Father.
On 26 April 2025, In the morning, with the popemobile and the car used by the Pope, the faithful went in procession from Lecidere to the monument of the Immaculate Conception up to Tasi Tolu, where the Celebration took place. Along the way, many people prayed, sang, and wept.
After 18:00, there was the Eucharistic Celebration in suffrage of Pope Francis, which was attended by thousands of people.
“What really touched me was the moment of Eucharistic celebration, especially the homily, when the Bishop of the Diocese of Baucau, Mons. Leandro Maria Alves, brought the messages addressed by the Pope to some Christians living in East Timor. During the celebration, many people cried and shouted remembering his visit, and it was an emotionally very strong moment. For us Timorese, Pope Francis is a father and an exemplary model, especially for the poor”, recounts Sister Maria Guterres Sarmento.
The expressions of affection and prayer of the Timorese people are the most beautiful and concrete expression of their filial listening to the words left to them by the Holy Father on that day, in the same esplanade of Tasi Tolu:
“I thought a lot about what the best thing is that Timor has? The sandal? Fishing? This is not the best thing. The best thing is its people. I can’t forget the people along the side of the road, with the children. How many children you have! The people, the best thing they have is the smile of their children. And a people who teaches their children to smile is a people with a future.”
