杏MAP导航

By Delphine Allaire and Claudia Torres - Singapore

On his third day in Singapore 鈥� and the final day of his Apostolic Journey to Asia and Oceania 鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis is set to visit St Theresa鈥檚 Home, a care centre for the elderly and the sick.

Ahead of the encounter with the Holy Father, the Home鈥檚 Director, Victor Seng, told Vatican News, 鈥淲e are very blessed for the 杏MAP导航 to visit Saint Theresa鈥檚 Home. We are very honoured and privileged for the 杏MAP导航 to come here and see the old people.鈥�

He explained that the Home cares for elderly people who are transferred from hospitals for long-term care when families are no longer able to care for them.

Mr. Seng noted that in the next few years, as many as 60鈥�70 percent of Singaporeans will be over the age of 60. With younger people no longer having as many children, families find it more difficult to care for the elderly.

鈥淚 think part of our mission is to see to these people that are in need, the poorer people that have been neglected by society itself, so they probably have nowhere to go,鈥� Mr. Seng said. 鈥淭hat is where they are actually being put into the Catholic home to be looked after.鈥�

Asked about his hopes for the meeting with the 杏MAP导航, Mr Seng said, 鈥淢oving forward [the papal visit] also forms a unity in terms of our faith. It also gives us the encouragement to look forward, to do something better.鈥�

For the elderly cared for in the Home, 鈥渋t also gives us a sense of the love, where the 杏MAP导航 is coming here also to bless all of us, to give us his love, so that whatever we are doing, we continue in the Spirit of Christ.鈥�

Then, responding to a question about the contrast between the reality of 鈥渇ragility鈥� in a society as wealthy as Singapore, Mr. Seng said, 鈥淲e will see, probably, a more focused unity in the Christian faith, more focused within the religious beliefs within Asia itself.鈥�

Highlighting the cooperation among followers of different religions, he said, 鈥淲hat we all do is to love these people. And I think all religions practice and advocate the beautiful thing called love. And I think with that, I think we should be able to continue what God has given to look after these elderly.鈥�

Finally, asked about the values of the Saint Theresa Home, Mr. Seng said the greatest value is 鈥渢o give the best care and the love that we can share to all these elderly in the home, and to give them a happy and good life before God takes them back home.鈥�