By Sr Fiona Yeo, Singapore (Province of Singapore and Malaysia)
Pope Francis’ three-day visit to Singapore from September 11 to 13, 2024, has been inspiring not only in terms of the messages he delivered but also because of the person he is. I was most blown away by the zeal of our 87-year-old pontiff!
Rounding off his 12-day tour of the Asia-Pacific, his schedule for a whirlwind visit to Singapore was fully packed, some days with back-to-back schedules.
In his address to political leaders, Pope Francis reminded Singaporeans not to forget the poor and elderly even as Singapore prospers economically by emphasizing that he “would like to highlight the risk entailed in focusing solely on pragmatism or placing merit above all things, namely the unintended consequence of justifying the exclusion of those on the margins from benefiting from progress.”
In his homily at the only public Mass he celebrated, the Pope, quoting St John Paul II during his visit to Singapore in 1986, spoke of how “the love that God shows us, and that he invites us to share with others ‘responds generously to the needs of the poor.’”
As a Congregation whose mission and ministries are focused on people at the peripheries of society, I feel challenged to consider if we run the risk of being contented with our current ministries and overlooking new needs that arise.
In his private meeting with the bishops, priests, and religious men and women, he spotted the only eight female religious leaders among the sea of over a hundred men and addressed these women directly, encouraging them to “do not forget to express the motherhood of the Church.”
I had the privilege of meeting him on his final day in Singapore during an interreligious dialogue with young people. It was 10 am, just an hour before he would leave for the airport, and it was already his third engagement of the day. He looked so alive and joyful, playfully joining in with the young people who cheered for him, and even managing to crack a few jokes.
He spoke to the young people with much conviction and tenderness, like an elderly grandfather encouraging his grandchildren. His exuberant spirit impels me to ponder on our fourth vow of apostolic zeal, which ‘gives us a singleness of purpose to all that we are and to all that we do.’ (Constitutions Article 29).
I wonder how we maintain our zeal in all that we are and in all that we do without confusing how well or how much we do (our achievements) with who we are (our identity). I think Pope Francis illustrates just this by the simplicity and sincere genuineness of his presence.
Watch the highlights of the Interreligious Meeting with Young People, 13 September 2024.
The 600 participants from more than 50 schools and interfaith and religious organizations who attended the event were genuinely touched that Pope Francis had disregarded his prepared speech. Instead, he felt it was more important to answer their questions. The young people with whom he spoke shared with me how he looked directly into each of their eyes, and they felt so heard and seen; they were surprised that their questions were important to the Pope.
This reminds me of my favorite quote from our Mother Foundress, Saint Mary Euphrasia: “It is not enough that we love them; they must [experience] that we love them.”
Indeed, our Pope Francis exhibited, in his short three-day visit, what it meant to treat others as if ‘one person is of more value than the whole world.’
He inspired me to wonder how aware we are of those excluded in our communities and ministries. In the spirit of our Mother Foundress and of walking together as a synodal Church, I considered how the people we encounter can feel seen and have their voices heard by us, that their opinions and actions matter, especially the dissenting ones.
The theme of the papal visit to Singapore is ‘unity and hope.’ Through his visit, I, too, have had a renewed sense of unity and hope for our mission, our charism, and our spirituality.
All glory be to the Good Shepherd!
Read more about Marymount Convent School in Singapore and their spiritual and practical preparations for the visit of Pope Francis including practising hymns to be sung at the Papal Mass and entering the Pope Francis Art Exhibition, here.
