Edwin Tong Reflects on Pope’s Outreach and Universal Teachings During Vatican Visit
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Edwin Tong, highlighted the importance of Pope Francis’s “strong heart” for “the last, the lost, and the least” in society, emphasising that Singapore could benefit from embracing these values. Tong made the remarks on January 5, after meeting with the Pope during a brief audience, known as “baciamano.” He praised the Pope’s warmth, humility, and personal touch, noting that Pope Francis made an effort to engage with every member of the Singapore delegation.
Tong shared on Facebook that the two briefly discussed key issues of social cohesion, multi-religiosity, and harmony, areas of mutual interest for both of them. He also mentioned that the Singapore delegation, which included Janet Ang, Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to the Holy See, attended the Pope’s first General Papal Audience of the year. The meetings with the Vatican are part of Singapore’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its relationship with the Holy See.
The teachings of Pope Francis extend beyond Catholicism, with Tong citing the Pope’s third Encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, which explores universal love, reconciliation, peace, and solidarity. This Encyclical, addressed to all Roman Catholic bishops, promotes the idea of fraternity and social friendship across all communities. Tong noted that the Pope’s message encourages humanity to aspire to be a single global family, a call that resonates with Singapore’s multicultural and religiously diverse society.
According to Tong, these teachings transcend the boundaries of any single faith and hold timeless relevance for Singapore’s values of inclusivity and harmony.
