His Holiness Pope Francis received a ceremonial welcome at the Parliament House this morning, following which he called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and met Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong. Pope Francis also had a new orchid hybrid, the Dendrobium His Holiness Pope Francis, named in his honour during an orchid-naming ceremony at the Parliament House.
President Tharman reaffirmed the good relations between Singapore and the Holy See. President Tharman and Pope Francis discussed the importance of fostering an attitude of openness in society, and building bridges between people of different faiths. They also underscored the urgent need to care for the environment.
Prime Minister Wong reaffirmed Singapore’s longstanding relations with the Vatican, and highlighted the Catholic Church’s contributions in areas like healthcare and education. Both leaders recognised that the world faced many challenges, and expressed confidence that societies will progress through overcoming these obstacles. They also looked forward to strengthening our bilateral engagements.
Pope Francis also received Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong for a private meeting this afternoon.
Pope Francis will depart Singapore on 13 September 2024.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
12 SEPTEMBER 2024