Pope Francis is welcomed by dancing children as he arrives at Singapore Changi International Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024. Pope Francis is heading to Singapore for the final leg of his 11-day trip to Asia and Oceania. (Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP.)SINGAPORE – In a line that may once again stir reaction in more traditional Catholic quarters, Pope Francis on Friday wrapped up a three-day visit to Singapore, a country with large pockets of at least five different faiths, that “all religions are a path to God.”
“They are like different languages in order to arrive at God, but God is God for all,” the pope said, who had set aside his prepared text and spoke largely off the cuff. “Since God is God for all, then we are all children of God.”
The pontiff made his remarks during a interreligious meeting with young people held at a Catholic junior college, just prior to departing Singapore for his return flight to Rome.
Such rhetoric has stirred controversy in the path among more conservative Catholics who fear that it calls into question Catholic doctrine on Christ as the lone savior of the world and also undercuts missionary efforts to bring people to the faith.
“Technology is something that we have to use, but we have to be attentive to the risks that come with it,” noting that was actually the theme of his prepared speech.
On the one hand, the pope said young people need to be adept in a multimedia world.
“A young person who doesn’t follow the media, what are they like? Closed, closed in on themselves,” he said.
On the other, he also warned that youth should not become “enslaved” to technology.
“A person who lives totally enslaved to media, how are they?” he asked. “A young person who is scattered, lost. All young people must use media, but use media because they help us to go forward, but not become slaves of it.”
With regard to bullying, the pope called it “something terrible.”
The pontiff noted that bullying often is directed at youth perceived as weaker, such as someone who is disabled. He pointed to the fact that during the interreligious meeting, there had been a dance performed by four young people with Down syndrome.
“Everyone has some disability, even the pope,” Francis said. “Just as we have our own disabilities, we have to respect the disabilities of others.”
Francis included a characteristic appeal to youth to take chances.
“Young people must have the courage to build, to go forward, to leave their comfort zones,” he said. “A young person who chooses to be comfortable in their lives gets fat. But the stomach doesn’t get fat, the mind does!”
“This is why I say take risks, go out!” he told the youth. “Don’t be afraid. Fear is a dictatorial attitude, and it paralyzes you.”
Prior to his departure Friday morning, Francis also held a private meeting with the bishops, priests and religious of Singapore, which was attended by the president of the Episcopal Conference of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.
In his brief address, the pope spoke of the traits he believes are important for pastors, saying they must be “in the midst of the people, united with God, brothers among you and united with the bishop.”
He also reminded nuns to not forget “to express the motherhood of the Church,” and urged everyone to keep smiling.
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