Pope Francis Visits East Timor: Historic Mass and Advocacy Amid Challenges

Pope Francis arrived in East Timor for a three-day visit, marking his longest overseas journey. The visit includes a Mass expected to attract more than half of the population. The pontiff's trip aims to address key issues, including historical independence struggles and recent abuse scandals within the Church.

Pope Francis touched down in East Timor on Monday, marking the start of a three-day visit in the predominantly Catholic nation of Southeast Asia. The highlight of his trip will be an open-air Mass, expected to draw over half of the 1.3 million population, according to the Vatican.

At 87, Pope Francis is on an ambitious 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania, his longest foreign trip to date. He arrived in East Timor after a stop in Papua New Guinea where he delivered medical supplies to a remote town on the edge of a vast jungle.

Greeted by President Jose Manuel Ramos-Horta and school children, Francis was welcomed with flowers and a traditional woven scarf. East Timor, which gained independence from Indonesia in 2002, is considered one of the world's most Catholic nations. However, the country faces ongoing economic and infrastructural challenges, and the Church has been recently marred by abuse scandals.

(With inputs from agencies.)