Pope Francis arrived in Singapore on Wednesday afternoon, following his visit to East Timor. During his stay, the pontiff is expected to emphasize inter-faith dialogue and bolster the Catholic Church's presence in a region where it constitutes a minority. This marks the final phase of his extensive 12-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania, which stands as the longest trip of his papacy.
During his two-night stay in the city-state, known for its status as a global financial hub, Pope Francis is scheduled to deliver a speech to the country's political authorities. In this address, he may touch upon critical issues such as wealth inequality and climate change. Additionally, the Vatican anticipates that his Mass will attract around 55,000 attendees, including Catholics traveling from Hong Kong specifically for the event.
The Vatican is currently in the midst of renegotiating a contentious agreement with China concerning the appointment of Catholic bishops, a deal that is set to expire in October. Singapore, with a population of 5.92 million, predominantly identifies as Buddhist, with approximately 31% of its residents adhering to this faith. The Vatican estimates that there are about 210,000 Catholics in the country, alongside robust Muslim, Hindu, and Taoist communities.
Inter-faith dialogue has been a cornerstone of Pope Francis's 11-year papacy. In Singapore, he will convene an inter-religious gathering with young people from diverse faith backgrounds. Additionally, he is expected to address themes such as wealth inequality and climate change, which are frequent topics of his addresses.
The Singaporean government has expressed concern over rising sea levels due to global warming, which could significantly impact its low-lying coastline. Consequently, the government plans to invest S$100 billion ($77 billion) over the course of the century to address this issue. During his visit, Pope Francis will also hold private meetings with 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, the first being a brief 5-hour layover by the late Pope John Paul II in 1986. Upon his arrival from Dili, the capital of East Timor, Pope Francis was welcomed by Edwin Tong, the Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth, and received flowers from local schoolchildren.
The pope's schedule for the remainder of Wednesday is relatively light, with only a private meeting planned with the Jesuit priests in the country. His meetings with political leaders and the Mass are scheduled for Thursday, before he returns to Rome on Friday. Pope Francis's 12-day tour has also included stops in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
