Meeting the Pope: Self-Reflections from Jesuit
The excitement in the air was palpable as the Pope visited our midst. In the days leading up to his arrival in Timor-Leste, I closely followed his talks and meetings in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. When his plane finally touched down at Dili Airport, I felt immense relief, grateful for his safe travel and […]
“ONWARD WITH CORAGEOUS PRUDENCE” Jesuits Meeting with Pope Francis
10 September 2024 Nunciature, Dili, Timor-Leste Transcript of the Meeting by Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ After meeting with bishops, priests and consecrated persons in Dili Cathedral, Pope Francis met with 42 Jesuits from the country at around 11 a.m. on September 10. After the greetings, the regional superior, Erik John Gerilla, addressed a brief greeting […]
Three Days with Pope Francis: Timor-Leste Feels Blessed and Nostalgic
In 1989, Pope John Paul II visited Timor-Leste when our country had been invaded by the Indonesian military since 1975. Many Timorese people died in the war; we lost our parents, brothers, sisters, relatives and, loved ones. Timor-Leste is a country that has endured immense suffering, but Pope John Paul II’s visit became a turning […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE (last day in Timor-Leste)
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS “Centro de Convenções” (Dili, Timor Leste)Wednesday, 11 September 2024 ___________________________ Dadeer di’ak! (Good morning!) First of all, I will ask all of you a question, and we will see who can answer it: What do young people do? You [pointing to a young woman]. [the young woman]. “Proclaim Christ!” Very good. […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS HOMILY in TASI-TOLU, DILI
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS Esplanade of Tasi-Tolu (Dili, Timor Leste)Tuesday, 10 September 2024 _________________________ “A child has been born for us, a son given to us” (Is 9:6). With these words, in the first reading, the prophet Isaiah addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem. It was a prosperous time for that city, but sadly also characterized by […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS MEETING WITH BISHOPS, PRIESTS, DEACONS, CONSECRATED PERSONS, SEMINARIANS AND CATECHISTS
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Dili, Timor Leste)Tuesday, 10 September 2024 ___________________________ Dear brother Bishops,Dear priests, deacons, consecrated persons and seminarians,Dear catechists, brothers and sisters, good morning! Many of the youngest – seminarians, young religious – remained outside. And now, when I saw the bishop, I told him that he has […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS VISIT TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES OF THE IRMÃS ALMA SCHOOL
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS Irmãs Alma School (Dili, Timor Leste)Tuesday, 10 September 2024 ___________________________ There is one thing that always makes me think. When Jesus talks about the final judgement, he says to some people: “Come with me”, but he does not say: “Come with me because you were baptized, because you were confirmed, because […]
Timor-Leste: POPE FRANCIS MEETING WITH THE AUTHORITIES, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS Presidential Palace Hall (Dili, Timor Leste)Monday, 9 September 2024 ___________________________ Mr President,Mr Prime Minister,Distinguished members of the Government and Diplomatic Corps,Your Eminence, dear brother Bishops,Representatives of Civil Society,Ladies and Gentlemen! I thank you for the kind and joyful welcome to this beautiful country of Timor-Leste. I am grateful to the President, […]
Rediscovering Our Jesuit Identity: A Call to Embrace Our Origins
July proved to be a particularly eventful month for us. After the intensity of our exams, we enjoyed a well-deserved semester break, which took us to the vibrant city of São Paulo, Brazil. Our visit included a profoundly moving experience at Esperança (“Hope”), an old age home where a staff member’s words resonated deeply with […]
A Heartfelt Journey: Reflections on My Volunteering Experience
From July 10 to August 6, 2024, I had the privilege of volunteering at the Finance Office of the Instituto São João de Brito (ISJB). As a Certified Public Accountant with 30 years of experience, this was a unique opportunity for me to offer my skills not for professional gain, but for a profoundly meaningful […]