Singapore Catholics to tailgate for Papal Mass as for Taylor Swift

In March, hundreds who could not get tickets to see Taylor Swift perform at Singapore’s National Stadium tailgated in the parking lot so they could hear the show. Now, it seems the sight may be much the same for Pope Francis, as more Catholics than can fit in the stadium want to be present for his historic first papal Mass in Singapore.

This will be Pope Francis’ first visit to the Asian nation of Singapore. The country's first papal visit came from Pope St. John Paul II in 1986. At the time, it was held in the largest arena in the country – the Old National Stadium – which was closed in 2007. Pope Francis will be the first pope to celebrate Mass at the current iteration of Singapore’s National Stadium.

TNP Singapore reports that 48,600 tickets to Pope Francis’ historic first Papal Mass in Singapore have been allocated through online raffle. While it is estimated that about 6-in-10 applicants were able to secure tickets, this still leaves 40% of applicants out in the cold. The report noted that some 20% of all seats available were reserved for volunteers and invited guests, including overseas bishops, priests, and laity.

So many people wished to attend the papal Mass that organizers added another 6,000 tickets to the second ballot, but this seems like a drop in the bucket compared to the excited crowds clamoring to see the Pope. In Singapore alone there are an estimated 32 churches and about 243,000 Roman Catholics, but these kinds of events tend to draw even more from the surrounding regions. 

With no way to get tickets, some Catholics are planning to spend the day in the parking lot, watching the live stream. TNP Singapore pointed to one disappointed Facebook user, Raymond Raphael Tan, who asked a Catholic social media group if anyone wanted to join him for a “picnic” outside the venue, “like Taylor Swift.” 

Learn more about Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to Singapore, here.