DILI, 3 september 2024 (TATOLI)— The Archdiocese of Kupang and the Diocese of Atambua, NTT (East Nusa Tenggara) Indonesia have registered 947 pilgrims to attend Mass with Pope Francis in Timor-Leste.
This was conveyed by the Secretary General of the Pastoral Center of the Atambua Diocese, Yosef M. L. Hello, answering questions regarding the registration for pilgrims that has been opened by the Atambua Diocese since july 9, 2024, through coordination with the Church Leadership of the Dili Archdiocese.
“Based on the recent coordination meeting report, the total number of pilgrims from the two dioceses was 947, with details, namely, Kupang Diocese 385 people and Atambua Diocese 562 people,” Yosef M. L. Hello explained to Tatoli this tuesday.
Bishops, priests, nuns, and Catholics ranging in age from 30 to 60 were among the pilgrims from Atambua and Kupang, according to the general secretary of the pastoral center of the Atambua Diocese.
Prior to Pope Francis’ visit to Jakarta from September 3–6, the Atambua Diocese, according to its bishop, Monsignor Dominikus Saku, had organized socialization events for 80 members of the Atambua Diocese, but no one had signed up.
“It turned out that no one registered; we suspected that most of the congregation would prefer to go to Timor-Leste because the Pope would also visit Timor-Leste. Based on that, we communicated with the bishops in Timor-Leste; we got through that information that we were allowed to include 10,000 people,” he said.
After communicating with the Archbishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dili, Dom Virgílio Cardinal do Carmo da Silva, the Atambua Diocese immediately issued a letter to start registering people who would participate in Pope Francis’ visit to Dili on September 9-11, 2024.
The following are some of the guidelines that the Atambua Diocese has provided for those who have registered:
- Hold a passport that will expire on the D-day (D+9 months) in at least nine months.
- Form groups of one four-wheeled vehicle (preferably buses), with complete valid documents. It is not permitted to use trucks or pickups. (The quota from each parish is determined based on the number of people and the size of the parish.)
- In good physical and mental condition, with the ability to run and walk comfortably for two six-kilometer laps (Tibar-Tasi Tolu PP)
- Bring a minimum of $100.00 along with any personal gear you may need, such as food if allowed.
- All participants are required to abide by the laws of the Timor-Leste state.
- Those who “had blood on their hands” during the 1999 conflict in Timor-Leste do not constitute participants.
- Participants from TNI/POLRI and government institutions are required to abide by the formal and administrative protocols of their respective organizations.
- Registering via the relevant parish priest.
Journalist: Cidalia Fátima
Editor: Armandina Moniz/Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
Translator: Camílio de Sousa
