DILI, 09 september 2024 (TATOLI) – Pope Francis, in his first public meeting with members of the government, representatives of civil society, the diplomatic corps, and the private sector, said that providing adequate training for young Timorese is the key to producing good future leaders to run the country.
Pope Francis made the statement at the Presidential Palace, shortly after a courtesy meeting with President Horta.
The Holy Father said that the formation and preparation of good leaders with a good vision will be the key to the development and management of the country, especially for Timor-Leste, a young country, where the first generation, which is considered the founding father of the nation, is getting older.
With 70% of Timor-Leste’s population under the age of 30, Timor-Leste is one of the youngest countries in the world, yet the country is still in the midst of confusion about who will be the appropriate leader of this nation when the first generation is gone. This is why the Pope’s message is crucial for Timor-Leste to better prepare its future generation to continue the legacy of the elders.
The Holy Father said that the preparation of good leaders will help solve the various problems that countries face.
As the youngest country in the world, Timor-Leste continues to face many problems, including poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, etc.
“In order to solve these problems and to achieve the optimal management of the country’s natural resources—primarily oil and gas reserves, which could offer unprecedented possibilities for development—it is essential to prepare properly and provide appropriate training to those who will be called upon to be the country’s leaders in the not-too-distant future,” Pope said during the meeting at the Presidential Palace on monday.
Pope said that these young leaders will then have at their disposal all the necessary tools to develop a far-reaching plan focused exclusively on the common good.
Pope Francis is the second Pope to visit the country since Pope John Paul II’s visit to the island in 1989, during the Indonesian occupation.
With tens of thousands of people welcoming the Pope, many hope that Pope Francis’ visit will bring hope for the country to achieve its goal of ensuring a good life for all Timorese, just as St. John Paul II brought the message of hope for independence to the Timorese people in 1989.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
