Government of Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste has received a letter of gratitude from His Holiness Pope Francis, addressed to the Prime Minister, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, in which he expresses his deep appreciation for the warm welcome and support provided during the Apostolic Visit to Timor-Leste, which took place between September 9^th and 11^th, In his message, Pope Francis expressed his joy at the days spent in the country, saying that ‘having returned to Rome with a happy heart for the days I spent in Timor-Leste, I would like to reiterate my gratitude to the Prime Minister and, through him, to all those who in one way or another contributed to making my Apostolic Journey to that nation possible and fruitful. The Holy Father extended his thanks “to each and everyone”, recognising the collective efforts that contributed to the success of his visit. 2024. This historic visit, part of the Apostolic Journey to Asia, represented a moment of great blessing and inspiration for the Timorese.

In his message, Pope Francis expressed his joy at the days spent in the country, saying, “Having returned to Rome with a happy heart for the days I spent in Timor-Leste, I would like to reiterate my gratitude to the Prime Minister and, through him, to all those who in one way or another contributed to making my Apostolic Journey to that nation possible and fruitful”. The Holy Father extended his thanks “to each and everyone”, recognising the collective efforts that contributed to the success of his visit.

During his stay, Pope Francis was enthusiastically welcomed by the Timorese population, who packed the streets in a demonstration of faith and devotion, culminating in the celebration of Holy Mass in Tasi Tolu. This event, the largest religious gathering held in Timor-Leste, brought together around 600,000 faithful, almost half of the national population, reinforcing the spirit of unity and faith characterising the Timorese people.

 Pope Francis also highlighted the youth of Timor-Leste, referring to this generation as the hope of the country: “Your country is young, and it has its strength and its future in the youth. I was very impressed to see so many young people wherever I went, especially during the meeting at the Convention Centre on [September] 11^th. Encouraging the Government's role in creating a “new page, beautiful and fruitful, in the annals of the Nation's history”, the Holy Father also invoked “abundant blessings”. He expressed “good wishes” for the Prime Minister “in his position and coordinating the government team”.

The Government of Timor-Leste gratefully welcomes Pope Francis' message. It reaffirms its commitment to promoting peace, unity, and development, reflecting the principles underpinning Timorese society. The Apostolic Visit represents a milestone of international recognition, strengthening Timor-Leste's position as a promoter of dialogue and peace on the global stage.