Pope Francis is wrapping up the first-ever papal visit to Mongolia.
Pope Francis arrives to preside over a mass at the Steppe Arena in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar, Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023. Francis is in Mongolia to minister to one of the world's smallest and newest Catholic communities. Neighboring China's crackdown on religious minorities has been a constant backdrop to the trip, even as the Vatican hopes to focus attention instead on Mongolia and its 1,450 Catholics.
Currently, some 77 missionaries minister to Mongolia's Catholics, who with around 1,450 people constitute one of the tiniest Catholic flocks in the world. But only two Mongolian men have been ordained priests, and no Mongolian women have decided to join religious congregations as nuns. “There are 77 of us missionaries. We’re all great, all saints, everyone works well," he said laughing. “But we have to think about making the local church grow, so that the people take their church in hand. Otherwise we colonize Mongolia anew, and that makes no sense."
Francis’ comment was a tacit acknowledgement of the competition for souls in places like Mongolia, which banned religious observation during decades of Soviet-allied communist government. Now, religious freedom is enshrined in the Mongolian constitution, and a variety of Christian and evangelical churches have taken root here.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Francis opens clinic on 1st papal visit to Mongolia. He says it's about charity not conversionPope Francis is wrapping up the first-ever papal visit to Mongolia
Read more »
Francis opens clinic on 1st papal visit to Mongolia. He says it's about charity not conversionPope Francis is wrapping up the first-ever papal visit to Mongolia.
Read more »
Pope starts Mongolia visit by calling for global peace, climate protectionPope Francis praised Mongolia for its religious tolerance, nuclear-free policy and its Shamanist and Buddhist traditions of living in harmony with nature.
Read more »
Pope starts Mongolia visit by praising the country's religious freedom dating back to Genghis KhanPope Francis has praised Mongolia’s tradition of religious freedom dating to the times of its founder, Genghis Khan, during the first-ever papal visit to the Asian nation.
Read more »
Pope starts Mongolia visit by praising the country's religious freedom dating back to Genghis KhanPope Francis has praised Mongolia’s tradition of religious freedom dating to the times of its founder, Genghis Khan, during the first-ever papal visit to the Asian nation.
Read more »