After the fervor of the crowds awaiting Pope Francis in East Timor, the pontiff's arrival in Singapore on Wednesday, September 11 seemed a little fresh. With 97% of its population Catholic, East Timor may be a case apart, but even during the first two stages of the papal journey in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea where Catholics are the minority, thousands of believers crowded around the places visited by the Pope. Not so in Singapore, a city-state as wealthy as it is authoritarian. As he left the airport, 1,000 faithful were allowed to cheer, not one more – because in Singapore, one likes a round count.

After visiting three developing countries, the last stop in Singapore, as one of the richest countries in the world, may surprise. But the odd one out on this list shares its ethnic and religious diversity with the others. Its geographical position also places it at the heart of the geopolitical issues that drive the region: Singapore, with a population of 5.9 million, is one of the world's largest trading ports, a global financial center, and a meeting place for American (American soldiers are stationed here) and Chinese influences. Seventy-five percent of the population is of Chinese origin, and the country has close economic ties with Beijing.

On Thursday, September 12, the Argentine pope repeatedly celebrated the success of the city-state, quoting "the forest of ultramodern skyscrapers that seem to rise from the sea. They clearly testify to human ingenuity, the dynamism of Singaporean society and the perceptiveness of the entrepreneurial spirit, which have found fertile ground for expression here." A few hours later, during a mass celebrated in front of 50,000 faithful in the National Stadium, the Pope placed even greater emphasis on the men and women to whom these successes are owed. The Pope also mentioned the State's efforts to promote social justice, citing the public housing system, which benefits 77.8% of the population, and the efficient healthcare system.

Pope Francis, who is not usually fond of the world of finance, did not take Singapore to task for its central role in Asian finance, with its notorious indulgence for money laundering. He did, however, suggest that the authorities improve their treatment of those excluded from economic growth, notably migrant workers, "who must be guaranteed a fair wage." Migrant workers from neighboring countries provide labor for factories and construction sites – and look after middle-class families – for pitifully low wages, an average of 645 Singapore dollars (€448) a month for domestic employees.

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