East Timor's Future in Focus: Presidential Hopes and Papal Visit

East Timor's President José Ramos-Horta sees Pope Francis' upcoming visit as an opportunity to spotlight the nation globally. He remains optimistic about a major energy project with Australia and urges China and the U.S. to be 'benevolent superpowers.' Ramos-Horta also discusses national challenges and the legacy of independence heroes.

East Timor's President José Ramos-Horta views Pope Francis' imminent visit as a golden chance to elevate the country's global profile, rather than a moment to address historical clerical abuse. In an interview with The Associated Press, Ramos-Horta expressed hopes for imminent progress on a significant energy project with Australia. He called for China and the United States to be 'benevolent superpowers' as they vie for influence in the Southeast Asian country.

The 74-year-old leader, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, returned to the presidency in 2022, pledging to tackle poverty, create jobs, and stabilize politics. Pope Francis is scheduled to arrive in the nation of 1.3 million people, widely known as Timor-Leste, on Monday after stops in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Enthusiasm is evident as the capital, Dili, prepares to welcome an estimated 700,000 attendees for a papal Mass.

Ramos-Horta sees the visit as recognition of the Timorese people's faith and progress towards peace. He emphasized the visit's marketing value, potentially boosting tourism for the country. The pope's visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of a UN-backed referendum that led to East Timor's independence from Indonesia. The event raises anew the issue of clerical abuse, a subject Ramos-Horta feels the Vatican has already addressed through sanctions on an implicated bishop.

(With inputs from agencies.)