Singapore in talks with Vatican for anticipated Pope Francis visit in September
Singapore is in talks with the Vatican for Pope Francis's September visit. Last papal visit was by late Pope John Paul II in 1986.
SINGAPORE: Singapore is currently engaged in discussions with the Vatican regarding a proposed visit by Pope Francis, anticipated to occur in September.
According to a spokesman from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore welcomes the potential visit by Pope Francis, as stated on Tuesday (2 April) in response to inquiries from The Straits Times.
The announcement of Pope Francis's planned visit was made by Archbishop Paul R. Gallagher, the de facto Vatican foreign minister, during an interview with America magazine on 26 March.
The initial reports of an Asia-Pacific tour surfaced in January through two Catholic media outlets – America and EWTN Vatican.
The latter, in an article outlining the Pope’s agenda for 2024, mentioned ongoing plans for a 10-day visit to Indonesia, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Papua New Guinea.
Originally scheduled for August, the tour will mark only the second papal visit to Singapore.
If his health permits, Pope Francis, who is 87 years old, is expected to spend at least a day in Singapore.
The possibility of a visit to Vietnam is also being considered, as reported by America magazine.
In January 2022, Minister for Culture, Community, and Youth Edwin Tong was granted a brief audience with Pope Francis during a working visit to Vatican City.
His visit aimed to reaffirm bilateral ties with the city-state and took place a month after the Roman Catholic Church celebrated its 200th anniversary in Singapore.
On 31 March, Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas confirmed Pope Francis's visit to Indonesia on 3 September.
The invitation was reportedly extended by outgoing Indonesian President Joko Widodo in June 2022, with the aim of fostering religious tolerance within the nation.
Nevertheless, concerns about the Pope's health have cast uncertainty over his Asia-Pacific travel plans.
On 29 March, he abruptly withdrew from the Good Friday procession at Rome’s Colosseum, citing a need to preserve his health before Easter obligations, according to the Vatican.
Despite this, he presided over the Easter Vigil service on 30 March and delivered his Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday, 31 March, from the central balcony of St Peter’s Basilica.
Singapore's Roman Catholic population is approximately 395,000 according to the 2020 census.
The last papal visit to Singapore occurred nearly four decades ago, when the late Pope John Paul II attracted thousands of Roman Catholics during a brief stopover in 1986.
During Pope John Paul II's visit in 1986, traditional gestures such as kneeling and kissing the tarmac were observed upon his arrival at Changi Airport.
Then Singapore Archbishop Gregory Yong, Vatican Ambassador to Singapore Archbishop Renato Martino, and Communications Minister Yeo Ning Hong were among those who welcomed him.
The visit also included meetings with then President Wee Kim Wee and Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, as well as presiding over a mass attended by about 70,000 people at the former National Stadium.
