Visitors to the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Singapore will find several new visual markers installed in observance of the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope and the recent election of Pope Leo XIV.
Among the additions is the Jubilee Crucifix of Hope, placed in front of the statue of St. Joseph inside the cathedral.
A lighted Jubilee Year of Hope logo has been installed at the Marian grotto, while a banner celebrating the new pope’s election is displayed near the main entrance.
The crucifix is a historic altar piece dating back to the period when the local Church was administered by French missionaries.
These missionaries, according to Church records, learned the languages and customs of the region and accompanied local communities in growing the Catholic faith.
Pilgrims may obtain a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year by visiting the crucifix, receiving the sacraments of confession and Eucharist, praying for the Pope’s intentions, and performing an act of mercy or charity.
The illuminated Jubilee logo shows a group of figures moving toward a cross—an image rich in symbolism, according to Vatican News.
The four stylized figures “indicate all of humanity from the four corners of the earth. They each embrace one another, indicating the solidarity and brotherhood that must unite peoples,” Vatican News said.
It added that the wavy lines beneath the figures represent turbulent seas to signify that “the pilgrimage of life is not always on calm waters.”
The lower part of the cross is shaped like an anchor, a traditional Christian metaphor for hope. “The image shows how the pilgrim’s journey is not individual, but rather communal,” the outlet noted.
The banner hailing the election of Pope Leo XIV reflects the Archdiocese’s joyful reception of the new pontiff.
Cardinal William Goh of Singapore said in various media interviews that he hopes Pope Leo will continue Pope Francis’s mission and foster greater unity within the Universal Church.
The prelate officially launched the Jubilee Year in the Archdiocese with a Mass on December 28, 2024. The Cathedral of the Good Shepherd has been designated as the local pilgrimage site for the Jubilee observance.
