Pope Francis will visit Singapore from Sep 11 to 13, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore said on Friday (Apr 12), confirming earlier reports of a likely trip this year.
“Details of the visit are still being discussed between the Singapore government, the Holy See and local church officials. More information about the papal visit will be released progressively in due course,” said the archdiocese.
According to the schedule, Singapore is the last leg of his Asia tour while a for now Malaysia is not the list of country to visit.
However he will be in predominately Muslim nation of Indonesia from Sep 3 to 6, Papua New Guinea from Sep 6 to 9 and Timor-Leste from Sep 9 to 11, the Vatican said in a statement.
Vietnam, which Vatican officials had suggested as a possible destination, was not mentioned.
The last time a pope visited Singapore was in 1986 when John Paul II made a five-hour stop as part of his Asia-Pacific tour that included Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia. Thousands attended a papal mass at the National Stadium during that visit.
“It has been 38 years since we had a visit from the Vicar of Christ to Singapore, when Pope St John Paul II honoured us with a visit on Nov 20, 1986,” said Cardinal William Goh, the archbishop of Singapore.
“It is my hope that this visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will bring renewed fervour to all Catholics in Singapore, uniting them in faith and mission, especially in these most challenging of times.”
Apart from official engagements, Pope Francis is expected to be at a Eucharistic celebration, “likely” on Sep 12, said the archdiocese.
