Pope Francis wraps up Apostolic Journey to Singapore

By Devin Watkins

After 12 days in 4 countries in Oceania and Asia, Pope Francis began his return flight to Rome.

The Holy Father boarded the papal plane in Singapore, which took off at 12:25 p.m. local time and is expected to land in Rome around 6:25 p.m. Rome time.

His 45th apostolic trip abroad took the Pope to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore.

In each country, the Pope embraced thousands of people and addressed a Christian message of hope and faith to various aspects of society.

The final day saw the Holy Father engage in intimate dialogues with a broad cross-section of Singaporean society.

Pope Francis first met privately with bishops, priests and consecrated religious of the Episcopal Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei at the St. Francis Xavier retreat center.

He then visited several elderly people at Maison Sainte-Thérèse, a Catholic retirement home run by the Little Sisters of the Poor.

The Pope’s last engagement in Singapore was an interfaith meeting at the Catholic Junior College, bringing together young people from a multitude of faiths and religious traditions.