DILI, 17 November 2025 (TATOLI) — President and Nobel Peace Laureate José Ramos-Horta departed today for a working visit to the Italian Republic and a State Visit to the Holy See, scheduled from 18 to 23 November. The visit highlights Timor-Leste’s deepening international partnerships and underscores the President’s long-standing commitment to peace, diplomacy and democratic values.
The President’s itinerary includes high-level diplomatic engagements at the Vatican and major academic distinctions in Italy. He will be conferred an active professorship and multiple honorary doctorates during the trip.
On 19 November, the University of Messina — one of Italy’s oldest universities, founded in 1548 — will award him a Doctor Honoris Causa in Political Science in recognition of his contributions to conflict resolution, diplomacy and nation-building.
On 21 November, Link Campus University in Rome will grant President Ramos-Horta a professorship acknowledging his unwavering commitment to peace, democracy and human rights. These academic honors represent the highest distinctions bestowed by universities on individuals of outstanding merit.
Ramos-Horta has served as President of Timor-Leste since 2022, returning to an office he previously held from 2007 to 2012. His extensive political career also includes roles as Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Between 2012 and 2022 President Ramos-Horta held several international positions as follows:
- Under-Secretary-General and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Guiné-Bissau, Jan 2013-June 2014;
- Chair, High Level Independent Panel on UN Peace Operations, United Nations HQ NY, September 2014 to June 2016;
- Co-Chair, International Commission on Multilateralism, New York Peace Institute; 2014-2016;
- Member of the Board on Mediation, UN Secretary-General (2017-2019).
He also served as Chair of the International Movement for Democracy in Washington, DC, and as Commissioner of the Global Commission on Drug Policies in Geneva, among other roles.
On 20 November, President Ramos-Horta will meet Prof. Andrea Riccardi, Founder of the Community of Sant’Egidio, during the working portion of his visit to Italy.
The State Visit to the Vatican will take place on 21 November. The President will have a private audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, during which he will convey the faith and greetings of the Timorese people and reaffirm the strong spiritual bond between Timor-Leste and the Holy See. He will later meet Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations.
Reflecting on the visit, President Ramos-Horta said: “I embark on this journey with a profound sense of purpose and gratitude. Timor-Leste shares a deep, historical bond with the Holy See, rooted in our shared Catholic faith—a pillar of strength for our people. I am deeply honored to be received by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to this sacred partnership. In Italy, we look to fortify a friendship based on mutual respect and shared democratic values. The academic honors are not merely personal accolades, but a recognition of the Timorese people’s extraordinary journey towards peace and self-determination.”
The distinctions to be conferred during the visit further strengthen Ramos-Horta’s standing as a global advocate for peace and diplomacy. He will conclude his program in Italy on 22 November and is scheduled to return to Dili on 24 November 2025.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
