Pope Francis on Thursday called on political leaders in Singapore, a prominent global financial hub, to ensure fair wages for the country's over one million lower-paid foreign workers. In what is likely his final major speech during a comprehensive 12-day tour across Southeast Asia and Oceania, the 87-year-old pontiff expressed his concern for Singapore's rapidly aging population and its migrant workforce, which is predominantly employed in construction and domestic services.
"I hope that special attention will be given to the poor and the elderly... as well as to safeguarding the dignity of migrant workers," Pope Francis said in an address to approximately 1,000 politicians, civil, and religious leaders. "These workers make significant contributions to society and should be assured of a fair wage," he added. According to government data, as of December 2023, there were 1.1 million foreign workers in Singapore earning less than S$3,000 ($2,300) per month, including 286,300 domestic workers and 441,100 workers in the construction, shipyard, and process sectors. Many of these migrant workers hail from neighboring countries such as Malaysia, China, Bangladesh, and India, with a significant number also coming from the Philippines, a predominantly Catholic nation.
The Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics, a Singapore-based NGO that provides services for migrant workers, welcomed the pope's remarks, fully endorsing his call for fair wages. The Ministry of Manpower in Singapore did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Concern for migrants has been a recurring theme for Pope Francis. Earlier in his trip, he urged leaders in Papua New Guinea to strive for fair wages as the country becomes a focal point for international companies due to its gas, gold, and other resources.
Pope Francis' speech followed private meetings with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the country's parliament building, where he was presented with a white orchid plant, a newly developed hybrid named in his honor. The pope commended Singapore's efforts to combat climate change, describing them as a model for other nations. The Singaporean government has stated that rising sea levels due to global warming could significantly impact its low-lying coastline, and it plans to invest S$100 billion ($77 billion) over the course of the century to address this issue.
"Your dedication to sustainable development and the preservation of the environment serves as an exemplary model," Pope Francis remarked. This marks only the second time a pope has visited Singapore, following a brief 5-hour stopover by the late Pope John Paul II in 1986. With a population of 5.92 million, Singapore is predominantly Buddhist, with about 31% of its people identifying with this faith. The Vatican estimates there are approximately 210,000 Catholics in the country, a number that rises significantly when including foreign workers. The nation also boasts strong Muslim, Hindu, and Taoist communities, and Pope Francis praised Singapore as "a vibrant mosaic of ethnicities, cultures, and religions living in harmony."
Pope Francis celebrated Mass at Singapore's national sports stadium, which the Vatican reported drew around 50,000 attendees. The venue, which has also hosted performances by artists like Taylor Swift, saw people lining up under tight security measures at least five hours before the event began. Connie Rodriguez, a Filipino Catholic in Singapore, described the experience of seeing the pope as "overwhelming" and said, "You truly feel blessed." Pope Francis toured the stadium at the start of the event in a white golf cart adorned with the Vatican seal, greeting numerous schoolchildren, babies, and disabled individuals, and even taking a few selfies.
Among those who attended the Mass, which included a prayer in Mandarin, were Catholics who had traveled from Hong Kong for the occasion, including the territory's archbishop, Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan. The Vatican is currently in the process of renegotiating a contentious agreement with China regarding the appointment of Catholic bishops in the country, which is set to be renewed in October. Pope Francis' 12-day tour has also taken him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor, with his return to Rome scheduled for Friday.
