Pope Francis arrives in Singapore for 3-day state visit

SINGAPORE – Pope Francis, the head of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, arrived in Singapore for a three-day state visit on Sept 11, the final stop of his tour of Asia.

An hour before the Pope was scheduled to arrive from Timor-Leste’s capital of Dili, some 1,000 Roman Catholics had made their way to Jurassic Mile at Changi Airport to welcome him.

Dressed in the yellow and white of the Vatican flag and carrying mini Singapore flags, many sang hymns as they waited in the sun for his arrival. More than 30 banners also lined the path, bearing welcome messages from the Catholic parishes here.

Upon touching down at 2.50pm, Pope Francis was welcomed at the airport by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong and his wife; and Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to the Vatican Janet Ang and her husband.

His arrival in Singapore marked the first visit by a pontiff to the Republic since 1986, when the late Pope John Paul II made a five-hour stopover.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, led by Archbishop William Goh, were also present to receive the pontiff, who watched a dance performed by children dressed in the traditional garb of Singapore’s ethnic groups.

The welcome procession along Jurassic Mile, which began at 3.25pm, saw the crowd wave and reach out for the Pope as the buggy he was on ambled down the 1km-long pathway. Many chanted “Viva, viva, Papa Francesco”, wishing the 87-year-old Argentinian Pope well.

Among those in the crowd was information technology associate Lorena Revilla, 36. After the Pope passed by, she could be heard saying “so close”, before she made the sign of the cross.

The Filipina, who has been working in Singapore for eight years, said she felt fortunate to be part of the welcome party as she did not manage to get

tickets to the mass that Pope Francis will lead at the National Stadium.

“Seeing the Pope is a big thing; he’s the one who’s guiding us in our faith. It’s an assurance that we’re following the teachings that the Lord is teaching us, because it is the Pope already who has discerned it and shared it with us,” she said.

“I hope he has a long life, and continues promoting love, giving love to people of different faiths, races, and the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community.”

One of the lucky few who managed to touch the Pope was Madam Amala Sudha Yednapalli Irudayam, 51. She was moved to tears by the brief moment.

“I don’t have money to go to see the Pope, and even if I went (to Vatican City) I’m not an important person to be able to see and touch him,” said the nurse, who was holding a rosary. “But today he came to see me. God has seen my longing.”

Many took leave from work to be at Changi Airport, including Madam Amala and Mr Gerard Yip, 38.

Mr Yip, an associate director of corporate development, said he felt fortunate to have been able to see the Pope up close, while also being one of about 50,000 Catholics who will be attending the Sept 12 papal mass.

Following the procession along Jurassic Mile, the Pope met members of the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits – a Roman Catholic order – at the St Francis Xavier Retreat Centre in Punggol.

On Sept 12, Pope Francis will call on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at Parliament House and meet Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong.

He will then give a speech at the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre, before celebrating mass at the National Stadium.

Some Catholics from the region have made a mini-pilgrimage to the Republic to attend the mass, including from Brunei, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Among them is Mr Malcolm Francis Solomon, a 22-year-old Malaysian, who collected his ticket at Cana the Catholic Centre here on Sept 11.

“I’m very excited – I’m sure the Pope’s presence will touch my life and many people’s lives,” said the accounts executive, who is representing his church, the Church of Jesus Caritas in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur.

“I hope that His Holiness will come to Malaysia one day and grace us with his presence.”

The Pope’s itinerary on Sept 13 includes

an inter-religious dialogue with young people,

before he departs for Rome.

Prior to Singapore, Pope Francis’ tour of Asia, which started on Sept 2,

had taken him to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.

Travelling with the Pope are the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle; Substitute for the Secretariat of State, Archbishop Edgar Pena Parra; Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher; and other senior Vatican officials.