Bishop Belo's labours on behalf of the East Timorese and in pursuit of peace and reconciliation were internationally recognised when, along with José Ramos-Horta, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in December 1996.
Biskop Belos arbejde for sine østtimoresiske landsmænd i forsøget på at få skaffet en fredelig løsning og en forsoning blev internationalt anerkendt, da han i 1996 sammen med José Ramos-Horta modtog Nobels fredspris.