Pope Francis varies his gentle messages of social justice for Singapore
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SINGAPORE – As with the earlier legs of his 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, the message that Pope Francis had for Singapore – delivered as always with a large dose of gentleness – came down to two words: social justice.
In Muslim-majority Indonesia, he spoke about how senseless violence was a result of a lack of commitment in upholding social justice. In resource-rich Papua New Guinea, it was about the need for large corporations to share their spoils with local people.
The Pope’s message in Catholic-majority Timor-Leste highlighted children and adolescents who have had their dignity violated through abuse, and the young in need of ideals to get out of the trap of alcohol.
In highly developed Singapore, the message crystallised into how there is always room for improvement, even as society holds social justice and the common good in high regard.
Instead of delving into the more pressing bread-and-butter issues heard elsewhere on the trip, the Pope’s messages for Singapore looked at bringing depth to what the nation has achieved, by returning to first principles – the need to remember to love despite its economic prosperity.
During his state address on Sept 12,
The head of state of Vatican City also called for special attention to be paid to the poor and the elderly, and to protect the dignity of migrant workers.
“These workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage,” the Pope said.
Dr Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, noted that the Pope appeared to be saying that while Singapore is doing well, it could do even better.
She told The Straits Times: “The Pope recognised that social justice and serving the common good are held in high regard here, and undergird core government policies and have translated into successful development.
“But he also recognised on the other hand that pragmatism and meritocracy could tempt us to marginalise those who may not seem to do well by such rational and natural measures of value, or ‘deservedness’.”
Former foreign minister George Yeo, who once sat on the Vatican’s new Council for the Economy, said Pope Francis delivered some “sharp and perceptive” points in his address, the chief being that society should never take its sight off the marginalised.
“It is so easy to improve our daily lives to pursue advancement and efficiency, and in the process forgetting that there are many among us who are in need of help, not just through charity, but in terms of solidarity and fraternity,” Mr Yeo told ST before the papal mass at the National Stadium on Sept 12.
The point about migrant workers and the importance of treating them with dignity also stood out for him. He said: “That’s very important because there are so many foreigners living among us.”
Reflecting on the point about fair wages, Mr Yeo said the Pope does not seem to be giving an economic prescription, but was saying that people should be treated as human beings and not merely as commodities to be traded. “If we are mindful of that, then what we do would be reasonable and fair,” he said.
The state address was also the Pope’s way of reminding Singapore “not to let national interests override everything”, Mr Yeo added.
Singapore Management University law professor Eugene Tan pointed out that Pope Francis occupies a place that no other world leader does as head of the Catholic Church, which has religious teachings steeped in the social mission of watching over the interests of the marginalised.
“I would say it’s not a lecture. It’s just a reminder that we need to look after the welfare and dignity of people who come to work for us and with us, and talk about fair wage,” said Dr Tan, who was at St Theresa’s Home when Pope Francis visited on Sept 13.
“I think all of us would want to be paid fair wages, and we shouldn’t deny that for people who don’t come from much,” he added.
Associate Professor Walter Theseira from the Singapore University of Social Sciences said the Pope “must have felt he ought to say something to remind us that the Church’s mission is to represent social justice, even when it’s uncomfortable for the powers that be”.
Social justice refers to the idea that everyone deserves equal access to things like economic opportunities and political rights.
Pope Francis’ words at his homily
“Sometimes the greatness and grandeur of our projects can make us forget (that nothing lasting is born or grows without love), and fool us into thinking that we can be the sole authors of our lives, of our wealth, our well-being, our happiness,” he said.
“Yet, ultimately, life brings us back to one reality: Without love, we are nothing.”
Pope Francis delivering his homily during the mass at the National Stadium on Sept 12.
ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Amid the Singapore-centric messages, it is easy to miss that Catholic leaders from the wider Asia-Pacific region were in the Republic to be part of the papal visit here.
They included Hong Kong’s Cardinal Stephen Chow, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2023.
Members from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei were also present at a meeting with the Pope on the morning of Sept 13 at the St Francis Xavier Retreat Centre, where the pontiff stayed during his two nights in Singapore.
For a country that seems to have it all together, especially with the Pope’s many commendations during the visit, his programme on the final day of his 12-day tour highlighted the challenges faced by technologically advanced, striving societies.
At an inter-religious meeting with young people,
Ms Preet Kaur Veygal, a young Sikh, wanted to know how one could have a meaningful discussion without fear of being judged for their opinion in an increasingly divisive world where events can lead to polarised views.
Such concerns also have to be squared with the high pressure to perform well in various aspects of life and the limited time for meaningful dialogue, she noted.
Pope Francis did not pretend to have all the answers, but he called on the youth gathered at Catholic Junior College’s lecture theatre to arm themselves with courage – to take risks, forge new paths and to criticise, but in a constructive manner. The pontiff also urged young people to use social media in a moderate way so that they harness technology without being a slave to it.
Earlier in the morning, the Pope’s visit to a nursing home, where he blessed 100 residents who were in wheelchairs, drove home – not through words but action – the need to always bring along the elderly and the sick, even in societies that prize merit and move at rapid speeds.
It echoed the papal mass a day earlier, where Pope Francis spent half an hour meeting children and people with disabilities during his circuit of the National Stadium.
Ms Monica Lim, who attended the mass on Sept 12, put it best: “He showed that it is the children, the disadvantaged who have the special privilege. His preference is for the poor, the last, the lost, the least.”
In the end, the most powerful of messages are shown, not said.
