DILII, 26 April 2026 (TATOLI) – President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Jose Ramos Horta attended the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francisco in Vatican City, representing Timor-Leste and its people during this solemn occasion. The President was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and the delegation.
Horta joined world leaders and thousands of faithful in paying final respects to His Holiness Pope Francisco, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Francisco became the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church on March 13, 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI’s resignation. As the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first from the Southern Hemisphere, Pope Francisco brought a fresh perspective to the papacy. His twelve-year pontificate was marked by humility, courage, and a luminous testimony of faith, justice, and love for humanity.
His Holiness Pope Francisco held special significance for the people of Timor-Leste, the second most Catholic country in the world by percentage after Vatican City. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francisco consistently emphasized the importance of dignifying the poor and marginalized, a message that resonated strongly with the Timorese people who endured decades of struggle for independence. Pope Francisco transcends beyond religious boundaries and inspire people from all the faiths.
In a letter addressed to Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, on 21st of April 2025, President Ramos-Horta stated:
“On behalf of the people of Timor-Leste, I extend our deepest condolences to the Catholic Church and to all the faithful around the world during this time of mourning and prayer. The memory of Pope Francisco will remain alive in the hearts of the Timorese people, particularly following his unforgettable Apostolic Visit to Timor-Leste in September 2024, during which he deeply touched the spirit of our Nation with words of hope, inclusion, and fraternity. His presence among us was a sign of the spiritual connection that unites the Timorese People with the Holy Father and the Church of Rome, and will be eternally remembered as a blessing.”
On 23rd of April, His Holiness Pope Francisco’s coffin was carried from the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta to St. Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful paid their respects for three days.
President Ramos-Horta and the Timorese delegation participated in the funeral mass for His Holiness Pope Francisco, which took place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 AM Rome time in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. Following the Mass, a procession accompanied the Pope’s coffin from St. Peter’s Square to the Basilica of St. Mary Major (Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore), where he was laid to rest.
Throughout his life and ministry as a priest and bishop, Pope Francisco always entrusted himself to the Virgin Mary. In his testament dated June 29, 2022, His Holiness specified his wishes:
“I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.”
In his testament, Pope Francisco requested that his tomb be prepared in the burial niche between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, asking for a simple tomb bearing only the inscription: “Franciscus.”
His Holiness concluded: “May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.”
Timor-Leste stands in spiritual communion with the Apostolic See and millions of Catholics worldwide who mourn the Holy Father’s departure. The nation has announced a one-week national mourning period with flags at half-mast since April 22, 2025, in honor of His Holiness Pope Francisco.
TATOLI
