Ryan Dagur, Jakarta – Timor-Leste's president-elect Jose Ramos-Horta says he will adopt a papal-endorsed document on human fraternity into the school curriculum to maintain interreligious harmony and peace in the Catholic-majority country.

He said he had discussed the issue with Aniceto Guerres Lopes, national parliament president, who gave his support.

"This document will be approved by the national parliament for inclusion in the primary and secondary school curriculum," Ramos-Horta told reporters in Dili on April 29.

"Timor-Leste will be the first country in the world to adopt the document into the school curriculum."

The Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which seeks to be a guide to promoting a "culture of mutual respect" between Christians and Muslims, was signed on Feb. 4, 2019, by Pope Francis and the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed el-Tayyeb, in Abu Dhabi during the pope's visit to the United Arab Emirates. The document is also known as the Abu Dhabi Declaration.

In a Facebook post, Ramos-Horta said he had discussed his plan with former prime minister Mari Alkatiri, a Muslim, during their meeting on April 28. "Mari received the plan with positive reactions," he said.

Source: https://www.ucanews.com/news/ramos-horta-to-adopt-papal-document-for-timor-leste-schools/9709