SINGAPORE – A crowd of some 50,000 people, from swaddled infants to white-haired seniors, welcomed Pope Francis to Singapore at the National Stadium on Sept 12.

Many were wearing the yellow and white colours of the Vatican flag for the papal mass.

One souvenir store, selling items such as T-shirts, sling bags and commemorative pins, was all but cleaned out by 3pm.

Hundreds of others who had failed to secure tickets gathered outside, hoping to catch a glimpse of the pontiff as he arrived.

The Pope, who is here as part of a 12-day Asia-Pacific tour, had a simple message for his flock: It is love that lies at the foundation of all human works, including the “great and bold architecture” of Singapore.

Moments after he was driven into the stadium at 4.30pm, babies were brought up to him and children lined up before his buggy to be gifted rosaries and sweets. The Pope also stopped to bless several adults, including people with disabilities.

Some were moved to tears as they approached the pontiff, while others snapped selfies with him. A few young ones, not knowing the significance of the rare encounter, burst out crying.

“It is blessed weather today. A bit hot, but not too much,” said manager Genevieve Chan, 52, who was just a girl when Pope John Paul II made a five-hour visit to Singapore nearly 40 years ago. “I remember the heavy rain in 1986, so this is good.”

Her injured left foot was in a boot brace. “I cancelled my eastern European trip, but I told my doctor I definitely have to attend the papal mass,” she said.

Mr Andrew Tang, a 54-year-old oil broker who attended the mass with his two children and two brothers, said the event was a once-in-a-lifetime event for him. “If I miss this, I don’t know when I will get the chance again. Probably in my next life.”

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and his wife, along with other Cabinet ministers, cardinals and bishops from the Holy See and from the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, also attended the mass.

A seating area was reserved for around 300 migrant workers, many of whom posed for pictures in their traditional costumes. One of them, a Catholic domestic helper from Myanmar, had an “I love Pope” sticker on her face.

“I am so happy and excited. It is my first time seeing the Pope,” said the 28-year-old who wanted to be known only as Ms Elizabeth. “Today, I want to pray for Myanmar, that the war will end, and for world peace.”

One member of the audience stood out in a feathered cap and green tailcoat. Sir Peter Low, Singapore’s only papal knight commander with star, was at the stadium with his wife and daughter.

“I was appointed in 2003 by the Pope for my services to the Vatican and the local church,” Sir Peter said.

The 76-year-old, who has a doctorate in sacred music, conducted the 1,800-strong choir at the last papal mass here in 1986. Although he did not lift his baton for the choir of 1,600 this time, he said he was glad to see the fruits of his labour.

He shared: “What you will hear sung today was largely used in the last mass. All the chairs and co-chairs of the music committee were tutored by me for close to 20 years.”

He added that he is grateful to “renew his connection with Pope Francis”, who is the third Pope he has met in his lifetime.

The Pope’s message

In his homily, delivered in Italian with English subtitles shown on screens, Pope Francis commended the Catholic Church in Singapore as vibrant, growing and engaged in constructive dialogue with other religions.

He also spoke about the beauty of Singapore, noting that “at the origins of these imposing buildings... what we really find is love”.

“As with any other undertaking that leaves a positive mark on our world, while people may think that they are primarily about money, techniques or even engineering ability, which are certainly useful, what we really find is love – precisely the love that builds up,” he said.

The Pope added that there are stories of love behind each of the works in Singapore – of men and women united with one another in a community, of citizens dedicated to their country, of mothers and fathers concerned for their families, and of professionals and workers of all kinds, sincerely engaged in their roles and tasks.

“Sometimes the greatness and grandeur of our projects can make us forget this, and fool us into thinking that we can be the sole authors of our lives, of our wealth, our well-being, our happiness. Yet, ultimately, life brings us back to one reality: Without love, we are nothing.”

Without love, there is “no life, no impetus, no reason to act, no strength to build”, he added. “If there is anything good that exists and endures in this world, it is only because, in innumerable situations, love has prevailed over hate, solidarity over indifference, generosity over selfishness.”

Quoting what the late John Paul II said when he visited Singapore in November 1986, Pope Francis reminded the congregation that “love is characterised by a deep respect for all people, regardless of their race, belief or whatever makes them different from ourselves”.

“These are important words for us because, beyond the astonishment we feel in front of human works, they remind us that there is an even greater wonder to be embraced with even greater admiration and respect: namely, the brothers and sisters we meet, without discrimination, every day on our path, as we see in Singaporean society and the Church, which are ethnically diverse and yet united and in solidarity!”

Mr Benedict Lester, 35, said the mass felt familiar, and the homily “as papal a message as you can get”.

“The Pope, being a Jesuit pope, is an intelligent man. He knows how to convey the important messages and the politics of his time,” said the communications professional.

But for Ms Monica Lim, who attended the last papal mass in 1986, the 11-minute-long sermon came second to Pope Francis’ slow lap in his buggy around the stadium.

Referring to how he blessed the children who came up to him during the half-hour circuit, the 57-year-old former civil servant said: “His homily is more than just his speech – it is his actions. He showed that it is the children, the disadvantaged, who have the special privilege. His preference is for the poor, the last, the lost, the least.”

Outside, but still in the fold

Outside the stadium, several hundred watched the proceedings through live streams on their mobile phones as they did not have tickets.

One of them was Ms Realyn Nabuab, 38, who only found out that the Pope was coming to Singapore two days ago.

As balloting for tickets had closed, the domestic helper from the Philippines got permission from her employer, a fellow Catholic, to experience the mass from outside the stadium.

She and a friend arrived before 2pm, both armed with portable chairs. She said she was happy just to be in close proximity to the Pope.

“This will be a good experience, to hear his voice and to attend the mass from outside.”

Also outside the stadium was Mr Sebastian Lopez, 20, who had arrived in Singapore from Mexico on Sept 8. The student from Tecnologico de Monterrey was on a week-long school trip to Singapore along with 17 other students.

“He is a great Pope because he really relates to the young people – adolescents like me,” he said. “He addresses topics that are very relevant to our generation.”

He added: “Even if there is a 1 per cent chance for me to see the Pope, I will stay here till he leaves.”

And cabin crew Genevieve Kamali, 53, made plans to schedule a layover in Singapore at the same time as the papal mass.

She and a group of family members and friends flew in from Fiji, arriving in Singapore at 5am on Sept 12. They cheerfully stood under the sun to listen to the muffled liturgical music coming from the stadium.

Tuning in to the live stream of the mass on his mobile phone, her friend Martin Aisea, 51, said: “Just being near the Pope is a great blessing... It is good enough for us.”

• Additional reporting by Andrew Wong, Esther Loi, Samuel Devaraj and Theresa Tan