Dili, East Timor CNN —
Pope Francis received an enthusiastic welcome in East Timor, a predominantly Catholic country, with almost half the population attending his open-air Mass.
600,000 people gathered to witness the Mass in Dili, where streets were filled with cheering crowds from early morning.
Attendees, including 25-year-old Estefania, lined up early for the event.
The pope addressed the crowd in Spanish, warning about the influence of ‘crocodiles’ that could disrupt their culture and history.
During his visit, Pope Francis also acknowledged the issue of clerical sexual abuse, urging authorities to tackle abuses for a peaceful childhood.
This visit highlights the Catholic Church’s role in East Timor’s struggle for independence and its deep ties to the country’s culture and history.
Despite some controversies, Pope Francis’s visit emphasizes the need to address issues of sexual abuse within the Church and the importance of unity and nation-building in East Timor.
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