Reverend Joseph E. Kurtz, D.D. Bishop | Archdiocese of Louisville

By Marilyn Rodrigues, OSV News

SYDNEY — Australian volunteers working in East Timor report growing excitement ahead of Pope Francis’ visit in September. More than half of the predominantly Catholic population is expected to converge on the capital, Dili.

The pope is scheduled to arrive on the afternoon of Sept. 9 as part of his 12-day apostolic visit to Southeast Asia and Oceania. Approximately 700,000 people out of the population of 1.3 million are anticipated to attend an outdoor Mass in Dili on Sept. 10, including many from remote regions who will travel for hours on challenging mountain roads.

East Timor, also known as Timor-Leste, is Southeast Asia’s youngest and poorest country. According to the United Nations, almost 60% of its population is under 25 years old, and 42% live below the poverty line. Many are subsistence farmers with high unemployment rates; however, it remains a faith-filled nation with 90% of its population being Catholic.

Carolyn Hadley and Michele Rankin, both volunteers with Palms Australia, plan to stay within their assigned communities during the papal tour. Hadley teaches English at St. Maria Mazzarello Vocational School in Venilale, a 93-mile drive east of Dili.

“There’s a lot of excitement and preparation,” Hadley said. “I was in Dili recently and while it’s always a bustling place, it seems to be even more so at the moment.”

“Many will pilgrimage from country areas to the city to see him," she added. "Everyone will stay for three days at least."

Rankin works at a community learning center in Balibo near the Indonesian border where locals frequently experience power outages and limited access to water. The center offers vocational skills training and services in various fields such as hospitality, dental hygiene, English language instruction, computer literacy, women’s health, and more.

This marks Rankin's second stint in East Timor; her previous assignment was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when most Palms volunteers were repatriated.

“I got quite a shock coming back,” Rankin said about comparing her experiences during COVID-19 between Australia and East Timor.

Both women believe Pope Francis' visit will provide an economic boost through infrastructure upgrades particularly in Dili and increased awareness about East Timor's beauty and needs.

“But really it's all about inspiration,” said Hadley. “Having the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church here will be hugely inspirational.”

Rankin agreed that it would be a significant occasion for East Timor: “When the World Youth Day cross visited our sub-district people walked for three hours delivering it while singing and praying.”