Singapore was the final stop on Pope Francis's 11-day tour, the longest journey of his papacy, following visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.
Upon his arrival in Singapore on Thursday, the Pope praised the country's economic strength as a reflection of human ingenuity. Impressed by the city’s skyscrapers that seemed to "rise from the sea," Pope Francis expressed his admiration in a speech to local leaders and celebrated Mass in front of around 50,000 people at the national stadium.
To commemorate his visit, Singapore introduced a new hybrid orchid named "Dendrobium His Holiness Pope Francis," unveiled during a ceremony at Parliament by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The orchid, with ivory-white petals tinged with a hint of pink, symbolizes serene and pure beauty. During a special ceremony, Pope Francis placed a small plaque bearing the name of the hybrid into the striking flower pot.
Singapore’s Soft Diplomacy: Orchid Diplomacy
Singapore's Orchid Diplomacy is a unique strategy similar to China's Panda Diplomacy. The National Orchid Garden, established by the British in the 19th century, now houses some 1,000 natural varieties and 2,000 hybrids.
The idea of naming orchids began in the mid-20th century, initially to honor important figures such as the wife of a governor, Anne Black. After Singapore's independence in 1965, the tradition was expanded to honor international figures.
Lee Kwan Yew, Singapore's founding father, formalized the "VIP" section of hybrids, which have been given to notable figures such as Queen Elizabeth II, Kamala Harris, Princess Diana, and now Pope Francis. These special orchids are not for sale and can only be viewed at the Singapore National Orchid Garden.
Singapore is a Model for the World
Pope Francis praised Singapore's commitment to sustainable development, public housing, education and quality health care. But he also stressed the importance of caring for the poorest and not sacrificing everything in the pursuit of success, citing the country's highly competitive work and education culture.
In his historic speech, Pope Francis specifically called for the fair treatment of migrant workers who contribute to Singapore's progress. He also praised Singapore's tradition of interfaith coexistence and its green plan for 2030, which includes renewable energy, waste reduction and a carbon tax, calling Singapore a model for the world.
Pope Francis visited Singapore to encourage the Catholic community, which makes up about 3.5 percent of the population, while also highlighting the country's tradition of interfaith coexistence. Later in the day, he celebrated Mass at the National Stadium, which was attended by some 50,000 people, including church leaders from Asia with sensitive relations with the Holy See: Cardinal Stephen Chow, Archbishop of Hong Kong, and Cardinal Charles Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar.
Many Singaporeans came out to greet him, some even receiving papal rosaries or autographs from the Pope himself. Pope Francis will continue his visit by visiting a senior citizens' center and leading an interfaith youth event before returning to Rome.
