Church leaders in Timor-Leste hailed the nation’s entry into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a milestone filled with hope, especially for young people seeking a better future.
“There is great expectation, great hope, especially among young people, who see accession as the opening of new and fruitful opportunities for employment and a future,” said Father Bento Pereira, spokesperson for the Episcopal Conference of East Timor and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, in an interview with Fides News Agency.
He said the nation “has been waiting for this moment for over 20 years,” adding that the membership “offers prospects for developing economic exchanges that can benefit East Timor’s growth and develop its potential.”
Father Pereira emphasized that the relationship will not be one-sided. “It won’t just be a matter of taking, but also of giving.
East Timor will join and contribute its identity, its culture, its resources, and also its faith, which is an integral part of our lives,” he said.
On concerns about migration, he noted that while emigration may rise, ASEAN membership could also bring new opportunities for study and work abroad.
“Young people could go to Asian countries to study or work and then bring their skills back here,” he said.
He added that faith remains central to the Timorese identity, saying, “When young people and Timorese citizens go abroad, they take their faith and culture with them and preserve them. They are not afraid to be witnesses of the Gospel.”
Meanwhile, Cardinal Virgilio do Carmo da Silva of Dili welcomed the ASEAN decision but urged vigilance.
“This step does not automatically mean prosperity for the nation,” he said. “ASEAN membership is a moment of pride for all Timorese. But it also means that we must be deeply committed in all areas, especially education.”
Timor-Leste, a predominantly Catholic nation of 1.3 million people, became ASEAN’s 11th member during the Kuala Lumpur Summit on October 26.
