East Timor couple have seen two popes visit, pray they will see Francis' successor


  • World
  • Wednesday, 23 Apr 2025

Pedro de Souza, 63, and his wife Zelia Soares, 63, show scarves they had when attending Masses led by Pope John Paul II in 1989 and Pope Francis in September last year, during an interview at their home in Dili, East Timor, April 23, 2025. REUTERS/Yuddy Cahya Budiman

DILI, East Timor (Reuters) - A devout Roman Catholic couple in East Timor has seen firsthand two popes visit their tiny Asian country and now they are praying they may witness another, once a successor is picked to replace Pope Francis.

"I deeply hope the new pope would visit East Timor," Pedro de Souza, 63, told Reuters at his home in the Timorese capital Dili, sitting next to his wife of 40 years.

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