When Pope Francis arrives Wednesday in Asia’s financial powerhouse Singapore for the last leg of a four-nation tour, he is predicted to bring his message of unity and hope to one in every of the world’s richest nations.
The 11-day trip, which earlier took him to Indonesia,Papua New Guinea and East Timor, is the longest for the 87-year-old pontiff since becoming head of the Catholic Church in 2013. Francis shall be the second pope to go to Singapore, after a five-hour stopover by the late John Paul II in 1986.
Here’s what to find out about Pope Francis’ three-day stay in Singapore:
Why is Francis visiting Singapore?
Singapore was originally a part of Francis’ travel plans to the region in 2020 however it was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The island city-state on the tip of the Malay peninsula has a small population of just below 6 million people and lacks natural resources, however it is a heavyweight in regional and international affairs. Astute leadership, its strategic location and status as probably the most open and least corrupt economies had transformed Singapore right into a bustling financial giant and maritime and aviation hubs in only 59 years after independence.
Singapore is a strategic U.S. partner but additionally maintains close ties with China. Ethnic Chinese account for about three-quarters of its residents followed by minority Muslims and Indians.
According to a 2020 Singapore population census, Buddhists make up about 31%. About a fifth of the population claimed no religious belief, while Christians account for nearly 19% and Muslims about 15%.
Singapore has 4 official languages: English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil, reflecting its multicultural identity and heritage.
“Singapore and the Holy See share a standard interest in promoting interfaith dialogue and understanding. Pope Francis’ state visit can also be the primary papal visit to Singapore in almost 40 years,” Singapore’s Foreign Ministry said.
In a city ranked as probably the most expensive to live in, Singapore’s Cardinal WIlliam Goh said that key themes regularly emphasised by Francis comparable to human dignity, inclusiveness, interreligious dialogue, family values, the necessity to manage artificial intelligence responsibly and look after the environment were of particular relevance.
“As such, Pope Francis’ visit is extremely anticipated and warmly welcomed not only by the Catholic faithful, but additionally by the broader society.” Goh said in a written response to The Associated Press. “After the apostolic visit is finished, I pray that Singapore shall be stuffed with hope — a profound, divine hope.”
What’s on the pope’s itinerary?
After flying in from Dili, East Timor, on Wednesday, Pope Francis will hold a personal meeting with members of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
On Thursday, he’ll receive an official welcome at Parliament House and meet Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He can even meet government officials, civil society and the diplomatic corps on the National University of Singapore.
The highlight shall be a public Mass on the 55,000-seat National Stadium within the evening. Those attending include Catholics from neighboring Malaysia and Brunei. Francis will make a tour across the stadium pitch to greet the faithful in his Popemobile before delivering his homily.
On the last day, Francis will visit elderly residents on the St Theresa’s Home. He can even hold an interreligious meeting with youths on the Catholic Junior College.
How influential is the church in Singapore?
The church marked 200 years in Singapore in 2021. The Archdiocese of Singapore was formed in 1972, seven years after Singapore’s independence. Diplomatic relations with the Holy See were established in 1981.
In Singapore’s early years, Cardinal Goh said the church’s work in education and health care were essential contributors to national development.
“Many of the country’s top leaders in each the private and non-private spheres were formed in Catholic schools; and plenty of basic health care needs were provided by Church-run health care institutions,” he wrote on the Vatican News website.
The church supports 395,000 Catholics in Singapore with its 29 parish churches, three devotional churches, 53 schools, 47 humanitarian organizations and two health care institutions. Goh said the church holds frequent dialogue with the federal government, which views it as a very important contributor and shaper of Singapore’s social fabric.
Goh, Singapore’s first cardinal installed by Francis in 2022, is a member of two Presidential Councils that advise the federal government on matters referring to racial and non secular harmony and minority rights.
“As the ultimate stop on this apostolic journey, Singapore stands as a testament to peaceful coexistence in a contemporary, multicultural, and multi-religious society,” Goh wrote in his reply to the AP. “This reflects the spirit of unity and variety that Pope Francis has emphasized throughout his pontification.”
___
Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely accountable for this content.
