Pope Francis visits Singapore with China relations in spotlight

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00:00For many Singaporeans, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

00:04Pope Francis has chosen the small island nation for the last leg of his Asia-Pacific tour.

00:13Laura Yin is among those who lucked out on one of the 55,000 tickets for Thursday's Mass

00:19at Singapore's National Stadium.

00:28As the pontiff blesses believers in Singapore, observers will be watching closely for any

00:32signals he makes to China, where no pope has ever set foot.

00:36For decades, Beijing and the Holy See have been at loggerheads over the issue of bishop

00:41appointments.

00:43The conflict created a parallel system, an official church with state-approved leadership

00:48and an underground church loyal to the Vatican's authority.

00:53In 2018, the two countries reached an agreement based on compromise.

00:57Critics described the deal as a sell-out to Beijing.

01:00But for the church, engagement with the Asian giant is crucial, especially as it's home

01:06to an estimated 12 million Catholics.

01:09So, I think there is a mindset shift here.

01:12In Pope Francis' view, probably, Catholicism, as his word implies, universal, has to be

01:18a global church, not a church of the West, but a church of the East as well.

01:22The truce has been a fragile one.

01:24The Vatican has complained about appointments made without its prior knowledge.

01:29But two weeks ago, the Holy See welcomed news that a bishop who was once under house arrest

01:34has now been officially recognized by Chinese authorities.

01:39An olive branch from Beijing ahead of the renewal of their deal in October.

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