Pope Francis is set to arrive in Singapore today, marking the final stop of his extensive Asia-Pacific tour.
The 87-year-old pontiff will complete a grueling 32,000-kilometer journey that began in Indonesia, followed by visits to Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
His visit to Singapore, the first by a pope in 37 years, is highly anticipated by the local Catholic community and civic leaders.
The pope is scheduled to stay in Singapore from September 11 to 13, with a packed itinerary that includes meetings with political and religious leaders, a public mass, and interfaith dialogue sessions.
Pope Francis is expected to land in Singapore at approximately 2:15 p.m. local time today. His first appointment is a private meeting with members of the Society of Jesus at the St. Francis Xavier Retreat Centre.
On Thursday, the pope will receive an official welcome at Parliament House, where he will meet Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Later in the day, he will attend an event at the National University of Singapore (NUS), addressing civil society, diplomats, and local authorities alongside President Tharman.
The highlight of the pope’s visit will be a mass held at the National Stadium, expected to draw a crowd of 50,000 worshippers.
Gates to the stadium will open at 1 p.m., with Pope Francis set to tour the venue in his popemobile at 4:30 p.m., before presiding over the 5:15 p.m. mass.
On Friday, the pope will visit elderly residents at St. Theresa’s Home before engaging in an interfaith dialogue with local youths at Catholic Junior College. His departure from Singapore is scheduled for just before noon.
The visit to Singapore is historic, as the last papal visit occurred in 1986 when Pope John Paul II made a brief stop. Over 5,000 volunteers are helping to organize the events, including 1,600 choir members and more than 650 wardens.
The Catholic Church in Singapore, which traces its roots back to the 1800s, currently serves around 395,000 faithful, according to the latest census. The community eagerly awaits the opportunity to welcome the pope and hear his message of peace and unity.
