Pope Francis embarks on a groundbreaking journey to Mongolia, marking the first-ever papal visit to this Asian nation. His visit comes at a crucial juncture as the Vatican’s relations with Mongolia’s influential neighbours, Russia and China, face renewed tensions.
Arriving in the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, on a Friday morning flight that passes through Chinese airspace, Pope Francis will have a rare opportunity to convey greetings to President Xi Jinping, as Vatican protocol dictates the exchange of greetings whenever the pope flies over a foreign nation.
Following a brief welcome at the airport, the 86-year-old Pope will take the rest of the day off to rest before commencing his official program on Saturday.
The agenda includes official meetings with the Mongolian president and prime minister, along with an address to Mongolian government officials, cultural figures, and business leaders. Furthermore, Pope Francis will have his first encounter with the bishops, priests, and nuns who constitute the foundation of Mongolia’s small Catholic community, comprising just 1,450 members, established within the last generation.
Although Christianity has had a presence in the region for centuries, the Catholic Church was officially sanctioned in Mongolia in 1992, following the nation’s separation from its Soviet-aligned communist government and the inclusion of religious freedom in its constitution.
Diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Mongolia have been maintained since then, and a few missionary religious orders, including Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, have nurtured this fledgling community over the past three decades.
Four Missionaries of Charity sisters from various countries manage a 30-bed nursing home on the northern outskirts of Ulaanbaatar. They offer care to elderly individuals with mental or physical disabilities, as well as those who are homeless, undocumented, or estranged from their families.
Sister Jeanne Francoise expressed her honor at Pope Francis’ visit to Mongolia, recalling a previous encounter with him during her time in Rome, but emphasizing that this visit feels much closer.
Pope Francis has consistently praised the work of missionaries and has sought to rekindle the church’s missionary focus. His visit to Mongolia includes presiding over a gathering of missionaries and the inauguration of a new church-run charity house dedicated to assisting Mongolia’s most impoverished residents.
Another pivotal aspect of Pope Francis’ four-day visit is to spotlight Mongolia’s enduring tradition of interfaith harmony. Historically, the Mongol Empire, founded by Genghis Khan, was known for its tolerance of diverse faiths among the populations it conquered. During his visit, Pope Francis is expected to highlight this tradition as he presides over an interfaith gathering, inviting Mongolian Buddhists, the majority faith in the nation of 3.3 million, as well as representatives from Jewish, Muslim, and Shinto communities, alongside members of Christian denominations that have established a presence in Mongolia over the past three decades, including the Russian Orthodox Church.
This interfaith encounter could provide Pope Francis with an opportunity to extend greetings to the Moscow patriarchate, which has been a vocal supporter of the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine. Pope Francis has navigated a diplomatic tightrope, endeavoring not to antagonize Moscow while adhering to the Vatican’s tradition of diplomatic neutrality in conflicts.
