“I 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,” the Pope said.
Singapore’s president and government officials have welcomed Pope Francis on the final leg of his trip through Asia and Oceania, as he praised the country’s economic strength but urged that the weakest be cared for too.
He is expected to spend two days in Singapore, departing on Friday.
During the visit on Thursday, the Pope praised Singapore’s economic development as a testament to human ingenuity but urged the city-state to look after those most at risk.
He marvelled at Singapore’s skyscrapers, “that seem to rise from the sea” and the government’s commitment to sustainable development, providing public housing, quality education and healthcare.
However, he also urged authorities to look out for the poorest and beware of rewarding excellence at all costs, referencing Singapore’s highly competitive work culture.
“I 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,” he said.
The pontiff called especially for dignified pay and better conditions for migrant workers who helped build Singapore into a global financial powerhouse.
“These workers contribute a great deal to society and should be guaranteed a fair wage,” Francis added.
Singapore has no minimum wage policy for locals or foreigners.
The country celebrated his arrival by unveiling a new hybrid orchid named after him, the “Dendrobium His Holiness Pope Francis”, which was presented during an official welcome ceremony.
Francis’ visit will include a speech to political authorities and a Mass at Singapore’s National Stadium, which the Vatican expects to draw around 55,000 people.
The Pope will also hold private meetings with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
For many Catholics in Singapore, this will be their first time to see a pope. The last papal visit to Singapore was in 1986 when John Paul II stopped for five hours.
The head of the Catholic Church arrived in Singapore on Wednesday for the final leg of his trip through Asia and Oceania, arriving in one of the world’s richest countries from one of its poorest after a record-setting final Mass in Timor Leste which attracted almost half the country’s population.
Prior to Timor Leste, Francis visited Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
He is expected to clock over 30,000 kilometres by air during his tour, far surpassing his previous 44 foreign trips.
