President Ramos-Horta inspires International Jesuit Youth on Peace and Reconciliation
DÍLI, 06 August 2026 (TATOLI) – President of the Republic, José Ramos-Horta, warmly welcomed youth delegates from the 16th International Service Learning Program to the Nicolau Lobato Presidential Palace.
The delegation, comprising Jesuit university students from the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, Hong Kong, and Timor-Leste, visited the nation to learn directly from its history under the theme of “Peace and Reconciliation: A Perspective on the Experience of Post-Conflict Countries.”
During the engaging dialogue, President Ramos-Horta shared Timor-Leste’s historic journey to independence and the vital role of courageous leadership in conflict mediation.
The Head of the State imparted a powerful message to the young future leaders, urging them to prioritize their education with a call to “study, study, study.” Furthermore, the Head of State emphasized that the pursuit of justice and global change must always be achieved through peaceful, non-violent advocacy rather than conflict.
The international delegates left the audience deeply inspired by Timor-Leste’s remarkable capacity for forgiveness, particularly the President’s account of how Timorese resistance fighters refused to demonize their adversaries and even provided medical care to wounded Indonesian soldiers during the occupation.
Through this engagement, the Presidency continues to champion Timor-Leste as a beacon of global peacebuilding, empowering the next generation to foster reconciliation in their own nations and across the world.
TATOLI
