SINGAPORE, Sept 12 – Pope Francis has arrived in Singapore for a three-day state visit to conclude his Apostolic Journey to the Asia Pacific region, which includes Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste.
The 87-year-old pontiff, on his first visit to the island republic, was greeted by Singapore’s Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong and Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to the Vatican Janet Ang.
Also present were representatives from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, led by Archbishop William Goh.
The Pope, riding a buggy along Changi Jurrasic Mile outside the Complex, was greeted by about 1,000 members of the Catholic community chanting “Viva! Viva Papa Francisco!”
This is the first visit by a pope to Singapore in 38 years, after Pope St John Paul II made a five-hour stop to the country on November 20, 1986.
