Pope Francis has arrived in Singapore to begin the fourth and final leg of his 12-day Apostolic Journey in Asia and Oceania – the longest of his pontificate. Source: Vatican News.
There was a palpable sense of excitement among Singapore’s residents, young and old, who were making final preparations for the Holy Father’s arrival.
A flurry of activity greeted our team at the Junior Catholic College, where young people were rehearsing for Pope Francis’ interreligious meeting with them, scheduled for Friday.
Sr Theresa Seow Lee Huang FDCC, the vice chairperson of the Archdiocese and Council for Interreligious Dialogue, and the vice chairperson of the event for interreligious youth, shared her hope that Pope Francis’ visit will be a source of renewal for interreligious dialogue in Singapore.
“We hope that with the visit, and bringing all the young people from the different religions together, even after the Holy Father has left, it begins a momentum really to pull the young people to work for harmony and peace,” said the Canossian sister.
Pope Francis is scheduled to deliver two public addresses: one during his meeting with authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps today, and the other during an interreligious meeting with young people on Friday.
Upon his arrival, the Pope held a private meeting with members of the Society of Jesus present in the country at the St Francis Xavier Retreat Centre, where he will be hosted for the duration of his stay.
Today, the Pope will pay a courtesy visit to the president, the prime minister, and the former prime minister. In the afternoon, he will preside over Holy Mass at Singapore National Stadium.
On Friday, before meeting with the elderly at St Theresa’s, he will have a private meeting with the bishop, priests and consecrated men and women at the St Francis Xavier Retreat Center.
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Singapore welcomes Pope Francis on final stage of 45th Apostolic Journey (Vatican News)
