Singapore President, Tony Tan Keng Yam met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on May 28 to mark 35 years of diplomatic relations between the Southeast Asian country and the Holy See. This was the first ever state visit by a Singaporean president. Diplomatic relations began in 1981 during pontificate of John Paul II.
The two men cordially discussed “the importance of interreligious and intercultural dialogue for the promotion of human rights, stability, justice and peace in south-east Asia,” said a statement from the Vatican. They also discussed collaboration between the Church and the State, especially in education and social fields.
Pope Francis gave President Tan a medal of peace, and a copy of his encyclical Laudato Si’. President Tan said climate change “is a big problem,” and thanked the pope for speaking out about it.
The President gave the pope an etching of Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay nature park and a book about Singapore’s exotic flowers.
As usual for diplomatic visits to the Vatican President Tan also met with the Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State along with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, secretary for Relations with States.
“And all the world wondered after the beast.” Revelation 13:3