Pope Francis’ visit brings renewed attention to Church sex abuse scandals in East Timor

In 2022, the Vatican confirmed that Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo, an East Timorese Nobel laureate and independence hero, had been sanctioned for sexually abusing minors. Despite this, many in East Timor continue to revere Belo for his role in resisting Indonesian occupation. Pope Francis is set to visit East Timor, but it remains unclear if he will address the abuse allegations or meet with victims, a gesture that could bring solace to those affected.

Belo’s abuse scandal surfaced in a Dutch magazine, and the Vatican acknowledged that it had secretly imposed restrictions on him in 2020. However, many Timorese, including students and traders, either deny the allegations or hope Belo will publicly refute them. Some see his absence alongside Pope Francis as a confirmation of the sanctions.

East Timor’s Catholic Church has grown dramatically since the Indonesian invasion in 1975, transforming it into one of the most Catholic countries globally. During the struggle for independence, the Church played a crucial role, with both Belo and American missionary Richard Daschbach celebrated as heroes. Daschbach, however, confessed to abusing girls between 1991 and 2012 and is currently serving a 12-year prison sentence in East Timor after being defrocked by the Vatican.