After Visiting RI, Pope Francis Will Just Visit Singapore

JAKARTA - Pope Francis will visit Singapore on September 11-13. Singapore will be the last country of Pope Francis' Asia tour.

The details of the visit are still being discussed between the Singapore government, the Holy Throne, and local church officials. Further information on the papal visit will be released in stages, "said Singapore's Roman Catholic Archdiocese as reported by Channel News Asia, Friday, April 12.

Pope Francis will be in Indonesia from September 3 to 6, Papua New Guinea from September 6 to 9, and Timor-Leste from September 9 to 11, the Vatican said in a statement.

The last time a Pope visited Singapore was in 1986 when John Paul II stopped for five hours as part of an Asia-Pacific tour that includes Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.

Thousands of people attended the papal mass at the National Stadium during the visit.

"It has been 38 years since we received a VIkaris Christ visit to Singapore, when Pope St John Paul II respected us with a visit on November 20, 1986," said Cardinal William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore.

"I hope the visit of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, will bring new enthusiasm to all Catholics in Singapore, uniting them in faith and mission, especially in these most difficult times."