Pope Francis' Historic Mass in East Timor Draws 600,000

Pope Francis celebrated a Mass in East Timor attended by 600,000 people, almost half of the country's population. Held at Tasitolu Peace Park, the event marked 25 years since the country's independence vote. Participants, including many children, endured the heat to see the pontiff, who emphasized cultural heritage.

Pope Francis celebrated a monumental Mass in East Timor on Tuesday, drawing an estimated 600,000 people, nearly half of the nation’s population. The event took place at Tasitolu Peace Park, a site deeply emblematic of East Timor's prolonged fight for independence from Indonesia.

Braving the scorching heat with temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius (90°F), attendees arrived as early as 1 a.m. to secure spots. Many sheltered under Vatican-colored umbrellas and carried signs asking for blessings, making it one of the largest proportional turnouts in history for a papal Mass.

The pope's visit also included meetings with local Catholic bishops and disabled children. Cardinal Carmo da Silva, Dili's archbishop, expressed profound gratitude, calling it a crucial step in the nation's development. The event featured readings in multiple languages and was part of Francis’ ambitious 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania.