Catholic leaders endorse Ramos-Horta as East Timor's prime minister

Published: 2006-07-12

DILI, East Timor (CNS) -- Catholic Church leaders in East Timor have endorsed Jose Ramos-Horta as the country's new prime minister, calling his leadership a step toward ending violence and political uncertainty. Ramos-Horta, who was sworn in July 10 as prime minister at the presidential office in Dili, promised close collaboration with the Catholic Church and an end to the violence that forced 150,000 people to flee their homes, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. "I think this is a good step forward to solve the crisis," Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Silva of Dili told journalists outside the presidential palace after the swearing-in ceremony, for which he was present. "The church fully supports the effort of the government, and the church is also available to work together with the government to build this country."

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