ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia -- Pope Francis on Sunday told Catholics in China to be 'good Christians and good citizens', using his visit to Mongolia to help ease tensions between the Vatican and Beijing.
This handout photo taken and released by Vatican Media on September 3, 2023 shows Pope Francis being driven past a Chinese flag during his arrival for Holy Mass at the Steppe Arena in Ulaanbaatar.
"To the people I wish the best," said the pope."To Chinese Catholics, I ask you to be good Christians and good citizens." In choosing to visit the vast, isolated nation of Mongolia sandwiched between China and Russia, the pope's goals were twofold. Telling AFP it was"rather difficult to come here", she described how the two organisers of her group's pilgrimage had been detained back in China."But I need to hold it and let the Pope know how difficult it is for us."Earlier Sunday, Francis assembled leaders of different religions operating in Mongolia in an intimate theatre -- designed in the round shape of the nomadic"ger" dwelling -- nestled in the low mountains encircling the city.
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