I felt the presence of Jesus Christ along with Pope Francisco’s visit to my beloved country, Timor-Leste, through my personal beliefs and beliefs.
On the first day when I heard the information about the arrival of Pope Francisco, I personally was not very enthusiastic, especially when there was information about attending Big Mass celebrations must register himself.
I am a strong individual regarding my faith and beliefs. I feel that if someone pays 0.50 cents to register, I would rather pray at home, although not everyone. The arrival of God in each individual is not through registration but through the trust and confidence held by His people.
However, my stance changed when last day I heard that from Dom Virgilio Cardeal do Carmo that the arrival of Papa Pope Francisco in Timor-Leste was for all communities or people Catholics, whether they have registered or not, are due to Pope Francisco’s visit to all citizens of Timor-Leste.
Extraordinary pride, finally I intend to join in the welcome and even attend a grand mass celebration by Papa Pope Francisco in Tasi Tolu. I would love it if Dom Virgilho’s words at the end of the day after all the other people had registered where Cardeal said that Papa Pope Francosco was coming for everyone.
Why not far away these words will be the first words but the first eviction program. Catholics need to cleanse their hearts, not their homes or palaces and I am one of those millions of people who cleansed my heart long before the arrival of Papa Pope Francisco in my beloved country, TimorLeste.
Two days before 09/09/2024, namely on the 7 & 8 the wind in the city of Dili was so fierce. Of course, as a Catholic who is a citizen of Timor-Leste, I don’t have to be silent. Maybe it’s the season, but for the sake of a visit from a religious leader, everyone is obliged to say a prayer.
On the 8th I tried to buy a pack of candles to pray for my country, the heroes who had died fighting to defend this country, leaders such as Mr Francisco Xavier do Amaral, Father Nicolau Lobato, Mr Nino Coni Santana and Sister Hermina who died in 1999 with several sisters as well as other brothers and sisters as well as fighters who died for this country as well as the spirits of grandmothers and grandfathers and fathers as well as all relatives and special prayers for my sisters and their children and their wives and brothers and husbands and their children and myself as well as my sons and daughters, especially to my organization as well as to all my members and practitioners as well as prayers for those who always take their time to insult me and belittle me because for me the arrival of Papa Pope Francisco is an extraordinary visit that requires me to clean the stains that have arisen. attached to my heart.
While praying to everyone, I also pray to nature in Timor-Leste, both the mountain peaks, the waters and the land of the country of Timor-Leste, so that Papa Pope Francisco’s visit can run smoothly without any obstacles.
The morning of Papa Pope Francisco’s visit, who will arrive at Nicolau Lobato Comoro Dili TimorLeste International Airport, according to the schedule, will arrive at 14:00 09/09/2024, the city of Dili feels drizzly and about to rain. However, suddenly it stopped. I am one of the individuals among millions of Catholics who are part of the community who have decided to be present to welcome the number 1 leader of the Catholic religion in the world during his visit to TimorLeste.
Millions of community members are ready to attend to await the visit of Pope Francisco on that day . So enthusiastic and tireless all the people waited patiently for Pope Francisco. I think this visit will only happen once in life. From morning to evening, finally the time came when Pope Francisco arrived at Nicolau Lobato Comoro International Airport, Dili Timor-Leste.
When people shouted that Pope Francsico had arrived. I don’t know, suddenly I looked at the statue or monument of fighter Nicolau Lobato at the roundabout with tears in my eyes. I said to myself, thank you, the nation’s warriors, if you open your services, how could this leader of the Catholic religion be able to visit? I realized that everyone was waiting enthusiastically for the arrival of Pope, and rarely anyone remembered the martyrs when everything was still busy. However, personally, I am actually proud of the warriors who died to defend this land as a country. While saying thank you to the monument, also to the late bishop Dom Martinho da Costa Lopes, whose body is still stored abroad, as well as Mr. Francisco Xavier do Amaral and Mr. Francisco Borja da Costa, all the fighters who died on the battlefield.
After that, everyone shouted if Pope Francisco has left the airport to go to the Catholic congregation or the community who have been waiting since morning. Everyone cheered on the public highway to see Pope Francisco’s arrival in person. However, only a few got the chance to see Pope Francisco’s face because the car in which Pope was traveling was traveling at high speed. I heard that many were happy, many were disappointed.
Personally, even though I didn’t see Pope Francisco’s face, I gained extraordinary wisdom from his visit. Why is that so? Because the tears in my eyes when I saw the monument to the warrior Nicolau Lobato was something new for me and it moved my heart to think about the warriors who died on the battlefield, which is not uncommon for people to experience, including remembering the late Bishop Dom Martino Lopes, a warrior leader from the Catholic side during the struggle, which is a lesson. separately.
I’m proud and I’m going home. The initial feeling of not wanting to attend Mass actually made me the most enthusiastic person among the millions of people who attended. In the morning I was still busy because the Soldado de Cristo organization was staying near the house I rented. In the afternoon, the enthusiastic people of Timor-Leste were full of mass locations in Tasi Tolu from morning to evening.
Approximately 700 thousand million East Timorese Catholics attended, including children, teenagers, young adults and adults from all over the city of Dili. All people are willing to walk from all routes such as Hera, Mota Ulun, Becora, Dare, Manleu, Bidau, Lahane, Taibesi, Mascarinhas, Caicoli, Kolmera and other routes by walking tirelessly.
Until the afternoon around 15: 00 I went with a little writer, Alya and her mother. We wanted to line up and wait on the main road to see Pope Francisco’s face up close, then receive the blessing and go home. Undoubtedly, I was approached by my younger brother, my childhood friend in elementary school, Rio Soares, and a young man with a social spirit who often worked to provide social assistance to others in need.
In the end, we were both enthusiastically waiting for Pope and the time came. Pope Francisco arrived. We were all happy to welcome him near the mass location in Tasi Tolu. Rio accidentally said that your sister is coming to Mass… while I called Alya but because of the large number of people present we couldn’t find each other.
Finally my little friend Rio and I followed the route to get to the location of the grand mass celebration by Pope Francisco will take place. we stand among millions of people. Attending mass and hearing Pope Francisco’s sermon. Suddenly I felt a light radiate from my heart when Pope Francis mentioned the importance of paying attention to children by using metaphorical language in his sermon.
My little friend Rio and I looked at each other and cried, remembering Pope Francisco’s sermon when the mass celebration took place in Tasi Tolu. When will the dirt on the human soul on land that always applies KKN in this country end! While going home.
After the big mass celebration, I felt a sense of peace in my mind. I am at peace with my heart, from the prayers that I said to those who often get angry at me from behind because I want to be clean in body and soul.
I really felt the presence of the Lord Jesus in my heart with Pope Francisco’s visit to Timor-Leste. There is a new peace born in my heart. I pray to my two children as well as my mother as well as my younger brother and sister so that they can live in harmony and avoid danger, also to all members, practitioners, even resource persons and stakeholders and my supporters, especially the fighters who have died for this country and the mountain peaks and waters and all the universe.
Arriving home my day felt lighter, no longer the burden of both thoughts and feelings of misguidance on my chest. I prayed for those who had wronged me and I finally made peace with my own heart.
I felt God’s wisdom and grace from Papa Pope Francisco’s visit and I felt the presence of Jesus along with Papa Pope Francisco’s visit through my beliefs and beliefs. I am also grateful that Papa Pope Francisco can be healthy until he returns to Italy (Rome).
By Dev’25