Pope Francis landed in Singapore on Wednesday, marking the final stop of his ambitious 12-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania. His arrival from East Timor follows several key visits, including Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, as part of a broader effort to strengthen ties and engage with Catholic communities in the region.
POPE FRANCIS STEPS THE FINAL LEG OF ASIA-PACIFIC TOUR ARRIVES IN SINGAPORE FOR TWO DAYS VISIT #popefrancis #asiapacific #singapore #visit #sgnews #trending #viralvideo #news #globalshekinah pic.twitter.com/5E1U8micQZ
— SG News (@SGNews123) September 11, 2024
The pope and his entourage arrived on an Aero Dili flight, and the city-state of Singapore is hosting him for a two-night visit. During his stay, Pope Francis will deliver a speech to political authorities and preside over a Mass at the National Stadium, which is expected to draw a crowd of around 55,000 people, according to Vatican estimates.
In addition to the public events, the pope will hold private meetings with key political figures, including Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. This marks only the second time a pope has visited Singapore, following a brief layover by Pope John Paul II in 1986.
Pope Francis’ Southeast Asia tour has seen significant milestones. In East Timor, he celebrated a Mass attended by approximately 600,000 people—nearly half of the country’s 1.3 million population. It was one of the largest turnouts in proportion to a nation’s population for a papal Mass, showcasing the deep Catholic faith in East Timor.
Pope Francis arrives in Singapore on Sept. 11, the last stop on his four-nation visit to Asia and the Pacific. https://t.co/kx08sowbsy
— Our Sunday Visitor (@OSV) September 11, 2024
On his arrival in Singapore, the pope was greeted by Edwin Tong, the Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, and received flowers from local schoolchildren. Wednesday’s schedule is relatively light, with a private meeting planned with Singapore’s community of Jesuit priests. Pope Francis will continue with his planned events on Thursday, concluding his visit before departing for Rome on Friday.
Key Points:
i. Pope Francis arrived in Singapore, the final stop of his 12-day Southeast Asia and Oceania tour, after visits to East Timor, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea.
ii. The pope will lead a Mass at Singapore’s National Stadium, expected to attract 55,000 attendees, and deliver a speech to political authorities.
iii. Private meetings are scheduled with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
iv. This is only the second papal visit to Singapore, with Pope John Paul II making a brief stopover in 1986.
v. In East Timor, Pope Francis celebrated Mass with 600,000 people, nearly half the population, one of the largest turnouts in proportion to a country’s size for a papal Mass.
Fallon Jacobson – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
