Former President of East Timor visits St Mary’s Cathedral
St Mary’s Cathedral Dean Mgr Michael Keating greets former President of East Timor, His Excellency Xanana Gusmão on Sunday, 24 April. HE Gusmão was visiting Perth for the 2016 ANZAC Day celebrations. Photo: David Butts
Former President of East Timor, His Excellency Xanana Gusmão, last weekend, on Sunday, 24 April, visited St Mary’s Cathedral, much to the delight of Cathedral Dean Monsignor Michael Keating and those who attended the morning Mass.
After being welcomed and greeted by Mgr Keating just outside the Cathedral’s Holy Door, HE Gusmão was welcomed in and stayed for the 11am Mass.
HE Gusmão was visiting Perth as part of the 2016 ANZAC Day celebrations.
St Mary’s Cathedral Dean Mgr Michael Keating (centre) with former President of East Timor, His Excellency Xanana Gusmão (right) and fellow Government representatives from East Timor on Sunday, 24 April. HE Gusmão was visiting Perth for the 2016 ANZAC Day celebrations. Photo: Jamie O’Brien
HE Gusmão was accompanied a number of fellow government representatives from East Timor, including Vice Minister for Social Solidarity, His Excellency Miguel Marques Manetelu; Chief of Defence, Colonel Falur Rate Laek (Domingos Raul); Timor-Leste Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Abel Guterres; and Liaison Officer for Veterans’ Affairs for the Office of Prime Minister, Ms Ines Almeida.
A practising Catholic from a family of teachers, HE Gusmão was born in Manatuto, in what was then Portuguese Timor, and attended a Jesuit high school just outside the city of Dili and reportedly studied to become a Jesuit priest later in life.
HE Gusmão is famed for having led East Timor to independence from Indonesia in 2002, in addition to having played a leading role in its political life ever since.
Following his service as President of East Timor, HE Gusmão became the fourth Prime Minister of East Timor, serving from 8 August 2007 to 16 February 2015. He has been Minister of Planning and Strategic Investment since February 2015.
Source: http://www.asianews.it/news-en/East-Timor's-Premier-Xanana-Gusmao-to-resign-33397.html