What's happened
Pope Francis is on a two-day visit to East Timor, a predominantly Catholic nation, as part of a 12-day tour of Southeast Asia and Oceania. His arrival has sparked both celebration and criticism over the $12 million cost of the visit amid ongoing poverty and abuse scandals within the church.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Samuel Osborne from Sky News, Pope Francis's visit is significant for East Timor, which is celebrating its recovery from past suffering. However, Niniek Karmini from The Independent highlights the stark contrast between the celebratory atmosphere and the reality of poverty, noting that many residents have been displaced to create a favorable image for the pope's visit. The Independent also reports on the government's justification for the visit's cost, with officials claiming it will aid infrastructure development, while critics argue it diverts attention from urgent social needs. Sui-Lee Wee from the New York Times captures the sentiments of residents who feel their struggles are being overlooked in favor of a staged welcome for the pope.
How we got here
East Timor, one of the world's youngest nations, gained independence from Indonesia in 2002 after a long struggle. The country is predominantly Catholic, with about 96% of its population adhering to the faith. However, it faces significant economic challenges, with over 40% of its citizens living in poverty.
More on these topics
-
Pope Francis is the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State. Francis is the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first pope from outside Europe since the Syrian Gregory
-
José Manuel Ramos-Horta GColIH GCL is an East Timorese politician who was the President of East Timor from 20 May 2007 to 20 May 2012. Previously he was Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2006 and Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007.
-
Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo SDB, GCL is an East Timorese Roman Catholic bishop. His religious life openly denounced the brutal Indonesian occupation of his country.
-
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is the Holy See's independent city-state enclaved within Rome, Italy. Vatican City became independent from Italy with the Lateran Treaty, and it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive domi
-
Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of more than seventeen thousand islands, including Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea. Indonesia i