DILI, 21 April 2025 (TATOLI) – The President and Nobel Peace Laureate, Jose Ramos Horta, extended his deepest condolences, on Monday, following the death of Pope Francis.
“It is with profound sorrow that I learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francisco, who today returns to God our Lord after twelve years of a pontificate marked by humility, courage, and a luminous testimony of faith, justice, and love for humanity,” President Horta said in a statement.
On behalf of the people of Timor-Leste, the Head of State extended his deepest condolences to the Catholic Church and to all the faithful around the world during this time of mourning and prayer.
He said that the memory of Pope Francisco will in remain alive the hearts of the Timorese people, particularly following his unforgettable Apostolic Visit to Timor-Leste in September 2024, during which “he deeply touched the spirit of our Nation with words of hope, inclusion, and fraternity. His presence among us was a sign of the spiritual connection that unites the Timorese People with the Holy Father and the Church of Rome, and will be eternally remembered as a blessing.”
“A man who came from “almost the end of the world,” as he himself said upon his election, Pope Francisco was, from the beginning, a Pope who walked closely with the poor, the excluded, the marginalized, migrants, and victims of war and indifference. He was a Pope of Justice, Peace, Dialogue, Integral Ecology, and the renewal of the Church to meet the challenges of our time,” Horta said.
His choice of the name Francisco revealed from the first moment the spirit of his ministry: evangelical simplicity, compassion, and commitment to the most vulnerable. He leaves us a legacy of living and dynamic faith, inspiring us to continue the work of reconciliation, forgiveness, and service.
Timor-Leste stands in spiritual communion with the Holy See, and the millions of Catholics around the world who today mourn the departure of the Holy Father.
In this moment of grief, Timor-Leste declares one week of national mourning with flags at half-mast from April 22, 2025.
“We join our prayers with those of believers worldwide, entrusting Pope Francisco to God’s eternal mercy and love,” Horta concluded.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
