Catholicism is the fastest growing religion in Singapore

Despite the strong presence of Buddhism, Catholicism is the fastest growing religion in Singapore, the last country that Pope Francis visits on his extensive tour of Asia and Oceania.

The arrival of the missionaries with Saint Francis Xavier

The origin of the Catholic Church in Singapore, the Southeast Asian country where the Holy Father is located, is closely linked to the first missionaries who, together with Saint Francis Xavier, arrived in Malaysia in the 16th century.

The Holy missionary arrived in Malacca, southwest of Malaysia, in 1545 and, three years later, the territory became a dependent diocese of the archdiocese of Goa, then a Portuguese colony in India.

The Catholic Religion was banned with the occupation of the Calvinist Dutch, until it was restored in 1819, when Singapore became part of the British East India Company.

French missionaries build Catholic churches and schools

In 1821, a missionary found a group of 12 Catholics on the island, a number that in 17 years would rise to 500. In those years, members of the Society of Foreign Missions from Paris also arrived, who founded churches and schools.

Specifically, the missionary Jean-Marie Beurel was responsible for the construction of the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, a boys’ school run by the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and a girls’ school run by the Sisters of the Child Jesus.

It should be noted that, from the beginning, the Catholics of the then diocese of Malacca were divided into two jurisdictions, due to an old conflict between the Holy See and Portugal that was not resolved until 1886 with the signing of a new Concordat.

The Catholics of the Portuguese mission came under the authority of the bishop of Macau (then a Portuguese colony), and those of the French mission under that of the apostolic vicar of Ava and Pegu (then Burma).

From 1888 onwards, the Portuguese Mission and the missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris worked together consolidating the presence of the Church in Singapore.

The Church suffered severe persecution during the Japanese occupation, between 1942 and 1945. The Catholic community revived in the post-war 50s and the Church intensified its work in the educational, health and social fields.

Beginning of relations with the Holy See

In 1972, Singapore was elevated to an archdiocese subject to the Holy See and in 1977, Bishop Gregory Yong became its first archbishop. Singapore currently has one cardinal, William Goh, created by Pope Francis in the 2022 consistory.

Following the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1981, Singapore received a visit from Saint John Paul II on November 20, 1986, as part of his 32nd Apostolic Journey to Bangladesh, Singapore, Fiji and New Zealand.

Catholicism, the religion that is growing the most in the country

Today, it is considered a secular and pluralistic State and a multiethnic city. Around 43% of its more than five million inhabitants are Buddhists. For their part, about 20% are Christians, 14% Muslims and there is also a small percentage of Hindus.

The Catholic Church currently has 176,000 faithful and is considered one of the most dynamic and vital in Southeast Asia.

Half of Catholics regularly attend church for Sunday Mass, and the churches remain full thanks to emigrants, who are an important component of the local Church.

Based on the most recent data from the Singapore Bureau of Statistics, the Holy See reported that Christianity, and in particular Catholicism, is the only growing religion.

This vitality is confirmed both by the active presence of the Church in the social sphere and by the large and participatory attendance at the liturgies.

In general, the policies of the Singaporean authorities are aimed at promoting dialogue and cooperation with religions, especially in the educational and social spheres.

This coexistence between different religions is also favored by the frequency of mixed marriages in the city-state.