SINGAPORE, 11 september 2024 (TATOLI) – Pope Francis arrives in Singapore, the last leg of his trip to ASEAN and the Oceani, the longest since he became Pope.
Pope Francis is scheduled to meet political leaders, members of the government, civil society, diplomatic corps, youth, elderly and the sick.
Interreligious dialogue, climate change, migration and strengthening the Catholic faith will be the main focus of his three-day visit to the country.
With more than five million inhabitants and only more than 200,000 identified as Catholics, the Pope’s presence in the Christian minority country is a historic step towards strengthening the Catholic Church in the country as well as in the region.
One of the approaches to strengthen the Catholic Church in the region is to have a controversial talk with the Chinese government over the appointments of the Catholic bishops in the country.
On thursday, the Holy Father will preside over an open-air Mass at the Singapore Sports Hub National Stadium, where more than 55,000 people are expected to attend.
In addition to the meetings open to the public, Pope Francis will also have a private meeting with the former Prime Minister of Singapore.
The Holy Father will end his longest trip to ASEAN and Oceania with a meeting with young Singaporeans at the Catholic Junior College, on friday.
Francis is the second Pope to visit the city-state of Singapore, after St. John Paul II’s visit in 1986.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
