DILI, 19 November 2025 (TATOLI) — The President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa in Political Science by the prestigious University of Messina in recognition of his longstanding contributions to peace, diplomacy, and nation-building.
The ceremony took place in the historic Magna Room of the Rectorate and brought together senior academics, dignitaries, and students.
Ramos-Horta delivered a Lectio Doctoralis focused on peace, reconciliation, and Timor-Leste’s evolving geopolitical landscape.
The laudatory address was delivered by Professor Giovanni Moschella, a mediator of Public Law Institutions.
University Rector Professor Giovanna Spatari, SCIPOG Department Director Professor Alessandro Morelli, and University General Manager Dr. Pietro Nuccio also attended the event.
Monsignor Marco Sprizzi, President of the Labor Office of the Apostolic Church of Messina origin, also took part in the Ceremony, who previously served as Counsellor of the Nunziature at the Apostolic Nunziature in Malaysia, Brunei, and Timor-Leste.
In his acceptance address, President Ramos-Horta expressed profound gratitude and presented Timor-Leste’s journey from struggle to sovereignty as a testament to the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.
The President highlighted Timor-Leste’s remarkable post-independence success, underscoring the country’s status as a vibrant democracy with a robust and growing economy, minimal public debt, and prudent financial management. He also referred to the historic reconciliation with Indonesia—transforming a painful past into one of the world’s closest bilateral relationships—as a powerful global model. This narrative reaffirmed Timor-Leste’s transformation into a stable and developing nation, built on a foundation of courage, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to peace.
Ramos-Horta also issued a powerful call for the urgent reform of the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, to make it more equitable and effective. He expressed profound anguish over global conflicts, describing the situation in Gaza as a “moral and political abyss” that challenges our shared humanity.
The President’s address firmly positioned Timor-Leste as a voice of conscience on the world stage, offering its own history as a message of hope that dialogue and cooperation can overcome even the deepest divisions.
The University of Messina praised Ramos-Horta’s lifelong commitment to peace.
Professor Moschella described Ramos Horta as a leader of exceptional integrity and a central figure in Timor-Leste’s long struggle for independence and democratic stability.
Rector Spatari said hosting the President was an honor for the institution and emphasized the symbolic importance of recognizing leaders who promote human dignity and peaceful coexistence.
Ramos-Horta’s legacy includes more than two decades spent advocating for Timor-Leste’s independence during exile.
He became the youngest person to address the United Nations on the issue, eventually helping to secure international support for Timor-Leste’s sovereignty, which was achieved in 2002.
His accolades include the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, shared with Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, and Portugal’s Grand Cross of the Order of Liberty.
Students from the “Pascoli–Crispi” Comprehensive Institute in Messina and several university students attended the ceremony, reflecting wide public interest in the event.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
