Pope Francis has expressed a desire to visit Russia and China in order to heal the historical rifts within the church and ensure the faith’s future in the populous East. Recently, he came close to achieving this goal by landing in Mongolia, a country located between the two geopolitical giants. This visit is significant because no pope has ever visited Mongolia before, despite its minuscule Catholic population.
During the plane ride to Mongolia, Francis acknowledged the small number of inhabitants in the country. However, he also recognized the greatness of its culture and expressed his excitement for the visit. On Sunday, he referred to the trip as a “much-desired visit” that would provide an opportunity to embrace a small but vibrant church.
Many observers, both within and outside of the church, are questioning why Francis, who is 86 years old and often uses a wheelchair, would travel over 5,000 miles to visit fewer than 1,500 Catholics in a geographically vast nation. According to a pollster, a significant portion of Mongolia’s largely nomadic population of 3.3 million knows very little about the pope.
The Vatican has stated that the reason for the visit is aligned with Francis’ priorities for the church’s direction. It also reflects his mission to improve cooperation and dialogue among different religions. Additionally, Francis aims to have his voice heard on the secular stage and improve relations with two world powers during a time of great upheaval.
The Vatican emphasizes that the principal reason for the visit is to encourage the small community of Catholics, in line with Francis’ focus on highlighting the church’s peripheries.
According to census data, over 40 percent of Mongolians do not identify with any religion. Among those who do, 87 percent identify as Buddhist, 5 percent as Muslim, 4 percent as adherents of shamanism, and only 2 percent as Christians.
Last year, Francis surprised many by elevating an Italian missionary in Ulaanbaatar to the status of cardinal and giving him a position in the Vatican’s office for evangelization. The missionary, Giorgio Marengo, describes the growth of Catholicism in Mongolia as gradual and slow, but constant.
Despite the small numbers, there is less buzz surrounding this papal visit compared to others. According to Sumati Luvsandendev, a leading Mongolian political analyst and opinion pollster, nobody is talking about the pope in Mongolia.
In addition to meeting members of the Mongolian church, Francis will also engage in a gathering with representatives from various faiths in Mongolia to promote interreligious tolerance.
The post was originally published on www.nytimes.com on 2023-08-31 22:30:04.