 Between September 1997 and September 2006 , Woon was seconded to the Foreign Service . He was Singapore 's Ambassador to Germany from 6 February 1998 to July 2003 , and was concurrently accredited to Greece from March 2000 to July 2003 . He then served as Ambassador to Belgium ( from 22 August 2003 ) with concurrent accreditation to the European Union , the Netherlands ( from 22 October 2003 ) , Luxembourg and the Holy See . In this capacity , he represented Singapore together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law S. Jayakumar at the funeral mass of Pope John Paul II in the Vatican City on 8 April 2005 , believed to be the largest gathering of heads of state in history . In 2006 , the Vatican made Woon a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great , which is conferred on Roman Catholic men and women in recognition of their service to the Church , unusual labours , support of the Holy See , and the good example set in their communities and country . 
