Despite the sweltering afternoon heat, hundreds of Catholics stood outside the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Singapore on April 22 to pray and pay tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21.
Over a thousand faithful gathered for the Memorial Mass, held in honor of the beloved pontiff who visited the island nation in September 2024 during his historic Asia-Pacific tour.
Crowds began arriving as early as 11:30 a.m. to secure seats for the 1:15 p.m. Mass. Those unable to find space inside stood under the sun on the cathedral porch—some shielding themselves with umbrellas—while others rested on the cathedral steps.
In his homily, Cardinal William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore, described Pope Francis as “truly a pastor for the world.”
“He was a man with great compassion, especially for the poor, the suffering, those marginalised, those struggling in their marriages or with their identity. Pope Francis sought to welcome them all,” he said. “He found every opportunity to speak out for the innocent and oppressed, especially those in war-torn countries.”
Monsignor Marinko Antolovic, Chargé d’affaires (ad interim) of the Apostolic Nunciature in Singapore, also offered a eulogy, saying: “Through all the years of his papacy, even as age and illness took their toll, Pope Francis remained what he always was: a father, a servant, and a friend to those most in need.”
“This is why his legacy will not remain only in books or declarations,” he added, “but most importantly in the hearts of the millions he inspired to live more simply, more deeply, and more humbly with God.”
The Mass was livestreamed on the Archdiocese’s YouTube channel, and attendees also queued to sign a condolence book and take photos of Pope Francis’ portrait placed near the altar.
Mr. Kevin Lim, one of the many faithful present, shared with Radio Veritas Asia: “I feel very sad. He’s an inspiration—a light in the world.”
Pope Francis visited Singapore in September 2024, as part of his 12-day four-nation Asia-Pacific tour, which also included Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.
[Christopher Khoo, the writer, is a Singapore-based journalist and educator.]
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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