Singapore Tightens Checkpoints Before Pope Francis' Visit
Editor
11 September 2024 10:56 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Singapore - Singapore will enhance security at its land, air and sea checkpoints this week due to an unspecified "heightened security situation in the region", its immigration authority said, warning of delays and additional clearance time.
The beefing-up of security will coincide with a visit by Pope Francis to the city-state from Wednesday to Friday, during which a papal mass will be held for 50,000 attendees.
The immigrations authority in its message, posted on social media late on Sunday, did not mention the pope's visit or elaborate on the security situation. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Francis, 87, arrives in Singapore on Wednesday and stays from 11 to 13 September on the last leg of the longest trip of his papacy despite concerns about his health. The 12-day trip includes visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.
In Singapore, he will hold a mass for 50,000 attendees. He will also meet Singapore's leadership, visit an elderly home and hold an inter-religious dialogue with local youth.
For many Catholics in Singapore, this will be their first time seeing a pope. The last papal visit was in 1986 when Pope John Paul II stopped by for 5 hours.
REUTERS
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