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During his visit to East Timor on Wednesday, September 11, Pope Francis sought to leave a lasting impression through words filled with kindness and hope, especially when addressing a group of young adults. He shared that he would never forget the smiles that lit up his stay in this young, predominantly Catholic country in Asia.

“There are two things that touched my heart as I walked through the streets: the youth of this country and the smiles. You are a people who know how to smile! Keep doing it! Don’t forget it,” the Holy Father said during his speech at the Dili Convention Center.

This event marked the final stop of the Pope’s visit to East Timor before departing for Singapore, the fourth and final destination of his Southeast Asia and Oceania tour, which took place from September 2 to 13. After visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor, Pope Francis was set to complete what is the longest international trip of his papacy with a one-day stop in Singapore before returning to Rome.

East Timor, young due to its independence achieved in 2002 and its population—an average birth rate of four children per woman—is also the most Catholic country in the world, with 98% of its citizens identifying as Catholics. During his stay, the Holy Father visited a center for children with disabilities, met with the clergy, religious leaders, and local authorities, and celebrated mass with 600,000 Catholics.

The meeting with East Timor’s youth, organized by the National Commission of Catholic Youth, was a highlight of his visit. Don Francisco Indra do Nascimento, the commission’s executive president, reminded the attendees of the commission’s primary mission: “To help young people become good Catholics and good citizens.” He praised the Pope’s presence, which he described as a gift of faith, hope, and love, encouraging the youth to work towards transforming their society into a “paradise of respect, charity, fraternity, and mutual love.”

During this event, four young adults—three Christians and one Muslim—shared their concerns with the Pope. They spoke about current issues such as violence, waste management, environmental care, the use of social media among youth, and the importance of religious formation within families. After listening to their testimonies, the Pope engaged in a spontaneous dialogue with the audience, asking a simple question: “What are young people doing?”

In response, the answers came quickly: “Proclaiming Christ,” “Proclaiming the word of God,” and “Loving one another.” These words resonated with the Pope, who enthusiastically replied, “Very good, very good.” He added that, regardless of the country, there is one thing that unites young people: “Young people make noise, they create confusion, and that is good because it shows the life they carry within them.”

Pope Francis also encouraged the youth to never lose their faith and to resist the temptations of false happiness promised by worldly excesses like drugs and alcohol. He concluded his speech by calling on them to cultivate peace, freedom, and fraternity in their country.

In a spirit of fraternity, Pope Francis reminded the youth of the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation, values embodied by Jesus Christ, whom he described as “the one who loves us all and calls us to live as brothers.”

He ended on a personal and heartfelt note: “I will never forget your smiles. Never stop smiling.” For the Holy Father, the youth of East Timor, who make up the majority of the population, represent the future of the nation. He urged them to hold on to their enthusiasm for their faith, an essential force for a future full of hope and prosperity.

This visit to East Timor will undoubtedly be etched in memories, not only because of the closeness and simplicity of the exchanges but also due to the powerful message of peace and fraternity that Pope Francis left behind.

Rev. Fr. George Nwachukwu
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