In receiving the credentials of Justino Maria Aparício Guterres as temporary ambassador plenipotentiary of the Democratic Republic of East Timor to the Holy See, this morning Benedict XVI called them the "crowning achievement of the bonds between Timor’s people and the Apostolic See", that have taken the "form of a diplomatic relations" since May 20th 2002, the day of the appointment of the outgoing president Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, whom the Pope recalled. In wishing a "profitable job" and the "best success" for this "greatly trusted appointment", the Pope expressed his "affection for the sons and daughters" of Timor. Then a greeting to the new president of East Timor, José Ramos Horta, appointed "with a great turnout at the polls said the Pope , evidence of the civic maturity of Timor’s people", which "looks promising" for the "process of construction of a democratic constitutional state". "To the new servants of this people, that has greatly suffered he went on , I ask not to disappoint these hopes, but to do all they can for the progressive democratisation of society, by promoting everyone’s participation in public life, so that every group or section may be represented and legally protected". (continued)
