In an interview with The Associated Press, President José Ramos-Horta of East Timor expressed his anticipation for Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the nation, viewing it as a valuable opportunity to showcase Asia’s youngest country on a global scale rather than to address the historical clergy abuse present in the deeply Catholic nation.

President Ramos-Horta, a former independence fighter and Nobel laureate, assumed the presidency in 2022 with promises to combat poverty, boost employment, and enhance political stability. The 74-year-old leader highlighted progress expected soon on a significant energy project with Australia, urging both China and the United States to act as “benevolent superpowers” while vying for influence in East Timor.

Pope Francis is set to visit the impoverished country, also known as Timor-Leste, following stops in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The visit is seen as a recognition of Timorese faith and the nation’s advancements towards peace. President Ramos-Horta also emphasized the visit’s potential to elevate East Timor’s profile in the tourism sector.

The president noted that despite ongoing challenges such as high unemployment and malnutrition affecting a significant portion of the population, development efforts were underway, particularly in the oil and gas sector, which serves as a crucial revenue source for the nation.

Ramos-Horta conveyed hope for progress in the exploration of the Greater Sunrise gas field, shared between Australia and East Timor, highlighting the importance of this project for East Timor’s economic future. Notably, the country aims to maximize benefits for its citizens by receiving the gas directly, rather than through alternative arrangements.

Regarding international relations, President Ramos-Horta welcomed China’s support in various sectors but emphasized that closer security ties with China were not necessary. He acknowledged the positive contributions of the United States Peace Corps in East Timor and expressed openness to further assistance from U.S. military engineers on the ground.

Ramos-Horta views both China and the United States as potentially benevolent superpowers and believes they can positively impact East Timor’s development. The president emphasized the importance of collaboration and support from various nations to address the challenges faced by the East Timorese people.