Pope Francis' historic mass in Singapore 38 years after his last visit

Filipino hospital administrator Anna Galarrita, 45, and domestic helper Olga Reyes, 52, along with Singaporean engineer Raphael Lau, 66, are prepping for Pope Francis’s first visit to Singapore in 38 years. They'll participate in the papal mass on September 11, when Pope Francis arrives in Singapore on the last leg of his 12-day trip, which includes Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and East Timor. He's expected to hold mass for 50,000 attendees, meet Singapore's leadership, visit an elderly home, and hold an inter-religious dialogue with local youth. This visit has ignited a wave of excitement and devotion within the Catholic community. Singapore, with about 7% of its 3.7 million citizens and permanent residents identifying as Catholic according to a 2020 census, has a long history of Catholicism dating back to the late 15th century when Portuguese missionaries arrived. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese estimates the total Catholic population, including foreign residents, to be 395,000, with Filipinos forming the largest group. Despite the small percentage of Catholics, the religion has made significant strides in the city, with the first Catholic chapel opening in 1833 and a mission school following in 1852.

Significance of the Papal Mass

The papal mass on September 11 holds particular significance for those involved, as Galarrita will be celebrating her birthday on the same day. She has also volunteered as a choir member to honor her mother's memory who recently passed away due to cancer. Galarrita sees this participation as a way to express her prayers for her mother's soul and for those who are suffering from cancer.