International News
Pope Francis Arrives In Timor-Leste Amid Abuse Scandal
Pope Francis has landed in Timor-Leste, the only Catholic-majority country on his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour.
The visit, which marks the first papal trip to the country since Pope John Paul II’s visit in 1989, is expected to draw around 700,000 people—more than half of the country’s population—to an open-air mass near the capital, Dili, later on Tuesday.
While the excitement surrounding the pontiff’s visit is palpable, it has also stirred controversy. Campaigners are urging Pope Francis to address a recent abuse scandal involving Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, a prominent figure in the country’s fight for independence.
Bishop Belo has been accused of sexually abusing young boys, and although the Vatican imposed disciplinary measures against him in 2020, victims have yet to receive any compensation. Survivors and their advocates are calling for the Pope to address this issue during his visit.
In an open letter, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests in Oceania emphasized the need for redress, asking Pope Francis to use Church funds to compensate the victims. While the Pope’s schedule does not include a meeting with the victims, it remains unclear if he will publicly acknowledge the scandal or whether Bishop Belo will make an appearance during the papal events.
The abuse scandal is not the only issue casting a shadow over the Pope’s visit. Authorities have faced criticism for demolishing homes and evicting dozens of families to clear space for the mass in Tasitolu, a wetland area outside Dili. The government argues that the residents were squatting on the land, but many of those displaced had moved from rural areas seeking work in the capital.
“They even demolished our belongings inside the house,” said Zerita Correia, one of the evicted residents. “Now we have to rent nearby because my children are still in school in this area.”
A government minister stated that the residents had been informed of plans to clear the area since September 2023, but the eviction has nonetheless sparked public anger.
Critics have also questioned the significant financial outlay for the Pope’s visit. The government has spent over $1 million on preparations, including the construction of a new altar. With nearly half of Timor-Leste’s population living below the national poverty line, some have voiced concerns that the money could have been better spent addressing the country’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
Timor-Leste, formerly known as East Timor, was a Portuguese colony until Indonesia invaded in 1975. During that time, only about 20% of the population identified as Catholic. Today, 97% of the country’s people are Catholic, making it the most Catholic country in Asia.
Pope Francis’s visit to Timor-Leste follows stops in Papua New Guinea, where around a quarter of the population identifies as Catholic, and Indonesia, where Catholics make up only 3%. He is set to conclude his Asia-Pacific tour in Singapore later this week.
Jeremy Doku insisted Manchester “will keep on fighting” in the Premier League title race despite their “painful” draw with Everton on Monday.
City drew 3-3 with the Toffees at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Doku scoring a 97th-minute equaliser, having also scored the opening goal.
Doku’s equaliser (96:49) is City’s third-latest goal on record (since 2006-07) in a Premier League game after John Stones’ strike against Arsenal in September 2024 (97:14) and Gabriel Jesus’ goal against Everton in February 2019 (96:52).
Doku has had a hand in six goals across his last five games for City in all competitions (four goals, two assists), as many as in his previous 22 games combined (one goal, five assists).
The Belgian also created the most chances in the match against Everton (four), completed the most dribbles (5/7) and won the most duels (14/19).
City avoided defeat in a Premier League game despite trailing by 2+ goals as late as the 82nd minute for the first time since March 2012 against Sunderland (3-3).
They went on to win the league title in 2011-12, and Doku believes City can still beat Arsenal to the trophy this season.
“First half, we played well and created a lot of chances. We know if we don’t score those chances, it is going to get difficult at the end,” said Doku.
“Obviously, they are at their own stadium, they create chances, and they are dangerous, and they scored two goals, but I think we gave them the game.
“Good that we came back because one point is not bad in games like this.
“We will see. It feels painful now. There is still a lot of games to go. We lost two points, but we know that one point can be important at the end.
“We will keep on fighting. We owe it to ourselves and to our fans.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigerians interested in repatriation from South Africa will be responsible for the cost of their return trip to Nigeria.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated this during a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
The briefing came shortly after a closed-door meeting between the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dunoma Ahmed, and the South African Acting High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele.
Mr Ebienfa said the process will be self-funded and not state-funded, as it is a voluntary decision that the Nigerian government will only facilitate and coordinate.
In the recent past, such reparations have been sponsored by Nigerian airline owners, particularly Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace.
The Nigerian government, on Sunday, indicated its readiness to repatriate its citizens from South Africa due to xenophobic violence.
The effort primarily targets Nigerians who feel threatened by the xenophobic violence and tension in parts of South Africa, as the protests against black immigrants in the country continue. Two Nigerians were killed last month.
Since the announcement, about 130 Nigerians in South Africa have expressed a willingness to return home voluntarily.
Mr Ebienfa stated that the return of the Nigerians depends on their financial capacity, as they would be expected to fund their trip back home individually.
He said, “Those willing to leave are expected to approach the high commission and, given that their decision is voluntary, have the resources to fund their return to Nigeria.”
The government will not “provide an aircraft from Nigeria to convey them.”
He also noted that the speed of the repatriation process will be determined by the availability of funds.
“Yes, 130 as of this morning have registered, but actualisation would be required to have their flight ticket to move back to Nigeria.”
Mr Ebienfa also explained that Nigerians who have so far expressed interest are motivated either by concerns about threats to their lives or by fear of arrest by South African law enforcement agencies.
“There are two groups of Nigerians who want to come back. One group feels the country is not safe for them and wants to come. They have all their papers intact.
“Then there is also the second group that has travel document violations or resident permit violations. And instead of running away from law enforcement, they are appealing that the government facilitate their movement back to Nigeria,” he explained.
However, he noted that the process is still being worked out and that the government would step in to provide aircraft or other needed assistance if tensions rise and the situation becomes more volatile.
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