ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia. Pope Francis arrived in Mongolia on Friday to offer support to one of the world’s smallest and newest Catholic communities. This marks the first-ever visit by a pope to the landlocked Asian nation, and it occurs at a time when Vatican relations with Mongolia’s powerful neighbors, Russia and China, are facing renewed challenges.
Francis reached the Mongolian capital, Ulaanbaatar, following an overnight flight that passed through Chinese airspace. This unusual route allowed the Pope to send a greeting to President Xi Jinping, following Vatican protocol which dictates that the Pope should send greetings when flying over a foreign country. In his message to Xi, Pope Francis expressed “greetings of good wishes” and invoked blessings of unity and peace upon China.
Despite tensions in the relationship, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, described the greeting as a sign of “friendliness and goodwill.” Wang emphasized China’s willingness to continue constructive dialogues with the Vatican and enhance mutual understanding.
Upon arrival, Pope Francis, who uses a wheelchair, was greeted by helmeted honor guards and Mongolia’s foreign minister. He was also offered dried yogurt by a woman in traditional dress as a gesture of welcome. However, he made no public comments upon arrival.
During his visit, Pope Francis will hold official meetings with Mongolia’s president and prime minister, as well as deliver a speech to Mongolian government, cultural, and business leaders. He will also meet with the bishops, priests, and nuns who make up the small Catholic community of 1,450 people, which has existed for only one generation.
Although Christianity has a long history in the region, the Catholic Church was officially recognized in Mongolia only in 1992, following the country’s transition away from its Soviet-aligned communist government and the enshrinement of religious freedom in its constitution. Since then, the Holy See and Mongolia have maintained diplomatic relations, with missionary religious orders, including Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity, supporting the small Catholic community.
During his visit, Pope Francis will preside over an encounter with missionaries, highlighting his commitment to their work. He will also inaugurate a new church-run charity house to assist Mongolia’s poorest.
Pope Francis has consistently prioritized visiting small and minority Catholic communities worldwide, demonstrating the universal reach of the Catholic Church. In Mongolia, he will also focus on the country’s long history of interfaith coexistence, emphasizing its tradition of tolerance toward various faiths.
While the Vatican insists that the Pope’s visit is to Mongolia, the question of China will remain in the background. Chinese and Russian Catholics are expected to attend the Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Mongolia, but China’s crackdown on religious minorities continues to influence the trip. Additionally, China’s opposition to the Dalai Lama, revered by Mongolian Buddhism, may come up during the visit.
China has demanded strict adherence to party directives for all religions, a policy known as “Sinicization.” This has led to the removal of religious symbols from churches and mosques. While the Vatican and China signed an accord in 2018 on bishop nominations, China has violated it, and tensions persist.
Pope Francis’ visit to Mongolia serves to support the growing Catholic community in the country and highlight interfaith coexistence, but it takes place against the backdrop of complex Vatican relations with Russia and China.
AP contributed to the story.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
