Airport workers wave to an airplane which Pope Francis aboard at Nicolau Lobato Worldwide Airport in Dili, East Timor, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. Related Press
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE — Pope Francis left East Timor for Singapore on Wednesday for the final leg of a gruelling 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, flying from one of many world’s poorest areas to one among its richest.
The marathon four-nation tour has already taken in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea however the 87-year-old pontiff has appeared in good spirits all through regardless of fears over his well being.
A proper leaving ceremony was held on the airport in capital Dili, the place the pope’s aircraft took off for the Southeast Asian city-state shortly after 12:25 pm native time (0325 GMT).
READ: Little one abuse scandals dangle over Pope Francis’ East Timor go to
The primary occasion of this leg was an open-air mass to what the Vatican mentioned was an estimated 600,000 individuals on Tuesday in stifling tropical warmth, rallying almost half of the Catholic-majority nation.
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“I’m so very comfortable, that is the primary time he’s right here. However we’re unhappy as a result of he was solely right here for 3 days — we needed him to be right here for one week,” mentioned 28-year-old banker Namaseo Xavier.
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“The message that Papa Francisco provides us, that’s peace for my nation.”
On Wednesday he spoke to younger individuals earlier than driving via the seaside metropolis the place 1000’s of individuals lined the streets, screaming as he drove by.
READ: Behind the scenes as Pope Francis kicks off historic, longest-ever tour
In Singapore he’s set to fulfill the city-state’s leaders, ship a state handle and maintain a mass at its nationwide stadium.
His go to was solely the second papal journey to East Timor, the place round 98 p.c of the inhabitants is Catholic, after John Paul II in 1989.
He’ll keep in Singapore till Friday when he heads again to Europe after wrapping up the longest and farthest tour of his 11-year papacy.
The nation, unbiased since 1965, is likely one of the most developed in Asia however has been criticised by rights teams over the severity of its justice system, which nonetheless applies the loss of life penalty.
It’s house to a Chinese language majority and important Malay and Indian minorities.
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Christians make up about 19 p.c of the inhabitants, however majority faith is Buddhism.
