Passport Applications Hike in NTT Ahead of Pope Francis' Timor-Leste Visit
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5 September 2024 17:47 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Pope Francis is scheduled to embark on an Apostolic Visit to three other countries after Indonesia, including Timor Leste or East Timor. Catholics in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Indonesia, are enthusiastic about the Bishop of Rome’s visit to the country’s neighboring state.
Quoting Antara, the Atambua Immigration Office in Belu Regency, NTT, which borders Timor Leste, records a spike in passport applications. In one day, the Immigration Office records around 70 to 80 passport applications.
“The upward trend has been happening since this year’s May to August,” said the Head of Atambua Immigration Office, Indra Maulana, on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
The passport applications, Indra said, are linked to the upcoming Pope Francis-led Mass in Timor Leste. Indra explained that passport applications on regular days only range from 20 to 25 people per day. “But ahead of Pope Francis’ arrival, there’s as many as 80 passport applications per day,” he said.
In May, the Immigration Office recorded 835 applicants which rose to 1,017 people in June. The passport applications slightly dropped in July with 994 applicants, and again in August with 816 applications.
Indra said the uptick in passport applications indicates a positive shift, as NTT residents seem to acknowledge the necessity of passports as one of the requirements for overseas trips. He added that Atambua Immigration is ready to aid those who wish to cross to Timor Leste for Pope Francis’ sermon.
Pope Francis will visit Timor Leste on September 9-11 after first visiting Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The President of Timor Leste, José Ramos-Horta, sees the Pope’s visit as a prime opportunity to promote the country as Asia’s youngest country on the world stage.
Walls are still being dabbed with fresh paint and banners and billboards have been hoisted to welcome Pope Francis. Citing ABC, an estimated 700,000 people are expected to participate in a papal Mass the following day in the seaside capital, Dili.
ANTARA | ABC NEWS
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