More than 50,000 Catholics gathered on April 26 for a requiem Mass for Pope Francis at the Esplanade of Tasi Tolu on the coast of Timor-Leste, where the pope celebrated Mass during his visit to this Catholic-majority nation last September.

Most people, dressed in white, sang songs, chanted slogans, and recited prayers loudly, remembering Francis as the funeral ceremonies progressed at the Vatican following his death on April 21.

They pinned Pope Francis' image and message in Portuguese – "Que Vossa Fe Seja Vossa Cultura" (May your faith become your culture) – onto their white attire, recalling the papal exhortation from his last visit.

The crowd, consisting of young and old, men and women, traveled hundreds of kilometers. Many from hilly villages walked to the venue, about eight kilometers from the national capital, Dili.

"It took me five hours on foot with my son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren to reach the venue," said 68-year-old Filomena Freitas, who could not attend Francis' Mass on Sept. 10 last year due to illness.

"Even though I am old and sick, I knew I had to be here today," she said.

With her hands folded in prayer, she added: "I pray for God to receive Pope Francis in heaven and allow him to watch over us from above. He was someone who truly cared for the poor."

Her family, standing around her, nodded in agreement, as if reflecting the sentiments of the country's 1.4 million Catholics.

Catholics make up 98 percent of the nation's 1.5 million population, with nearly half of them – 600,000 – attending Francis' September Mass, while several thousand lined the road as he drove in from the capital to Tasi Tolu.

"I remember standing on the roadside just to see him pass and receive his blessing," said Rosa Soares, a 22-year-old domestic worker, with tears in her eyes.

"Today, we say our final prayer for him to tell him how much we love and miss him," she said.

Jose Onorio, a human rights activist, expressed grief at the pope's passing, highlighting his life's global impact.

"We have lost a global leader in human fraternity," Onorio said. "He was a voice for human rights, a listener to the marginalized, and a symbol of compassion."

Bishop Leandro Maria Alves of Baucau, who leads one of the three dioceses in the country, officiated the Mass.

During the homily, the bishop described the pope as "a man of courage, truth, and love" who remained "close to ordinary people and advocated tirelessly for unity and forgiveness."

"His closeness to the people, his courage, his love, and his call for fraternity among all ... were meant to bring about a renewed, resuscitated community," said Leandro.

Source: https://www.ucanews.com/news/50-000-gather-in-timor-leste-to-pray-for-pope-francis/10871