From the Vatican to Upper Thomson: Nursing home residents welcome Pope Francis

SINGAPORE - Friday mornings are usually mundane at St Theresa’s Home, where residents slowly go about their routine of exercise and prayer on the serene premises perched atop a hill in Upper Thomson.

But for just 30 minutes on Sept 13, the Catholic welfare nursing home, which houses around 200 of the elderly and aged sick, was a flurry of activity as Pope Francis paid a visit.

It was one of the stops for the leader of the Catholic Church as he wrapped up

his three-day visit to Singapore.

Arriving at about 9.30am to the tolling of bells, Pope Francis was greeted by a line of staff from St Theresa’s Home, as well as Villa Francis Home for the Aged and St Joseph’s Home. All three nursing homes are managed by social service agency Catholic Welfare Services.

The staff waved the Vatican and Singapore flags and cried “Viva Papa”, the now-ubiquitous chant heard during the 87-year-old Pope’s visit here.

As he made his way around the grounds, the Pope also paused to spend a private moment with Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia, 86, who is a resident at St Theresa’s Home.

At the chapel, Pope Francis gave his blessings to about 100 residents in wheelchairs from the three homes. The pontiff also asked them to pray for him.

“I ask you to pray for the Church and for humanity. Your prayers are very important before God. God is happy to hear your prayers,” he added.

The Pope also blessed the foundation stone for the Catholic Hub – an upcoming centre for the archdiocese’s activities, which will be taking over the premises of St Theresa’s Home, with the home set to relocate.

As he left to head to

an inter-religious dialogue at Catholic Junior College

, Pope Francis – himself in a wheelchair – took time to individually bless some wheelchair-using residents who were there to send him off.

One of them was Ms Bertha Hang, 76, who has been a resident of St Theresa’s Home for about 20 years.

She was among those who were present during the last papal visit to Singapore, some 38 years ago, when she attended the mass by Pope John Paul II.

Ms Hang said she was excited when she learnt of Pope Francis’ visit to Singapore, and also that he would be paying her place of residence a visit.

She said: “It was a very nice experience, meeting the Pope. Everyone was so happy that he came to St Theresa’s Home.”

Another resident, Ms Jessie Lau, 87, said the unexpected encounter with the Pope was an honour.

Ms Lau, who has been a Catholic since she was baptised at the age of 21, said: “I feel it’s a privilege that the Pope came to Singapore and that we could meet him. Before this, we could never dream of meeting a pope.”

The Rev Anthony Hutjes, who has been residing at St Theresa’s Home for about three months, took the opportunity to hand Pope Francis some books that he had written.

In their brief interaction, the pair exchanged smiles, and the priest from Holland said he hopes the Pope will read one of his books, but understands that it would be difficult given his busy schedule.

Father Hutjes, 88, said: “I think if we had more opportunity to talk, we would have become friends. I was impressed by him because he is really a man of inner simplicity.”