Pope Francis is visiting Mongolia from Aug. 31–Sept. 4. Mongolia is one of the world’s largest landlocked nations, sandwiched between its much larger and more powerful neighbors, China and Russia. It has one of the smallest Christian communities in the world with 1,450 Catholics.
Here are a few highlights:
A special Virgin Mary statue
Pope Francis met Tsetsege, the woman who found a Virgin Mary statue in a garbage pile. The Holy Father blessed the statue and is now venerated in Ulaanbaatar’s Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul.
📹VIDEO | Pope Francis met Tsetsege, the woman who found a small Virgin Mary statue in a garbage pile. #PopeInMongolia blessed the statue now venerated in Ulaanbaatar’s Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul under the title of “Heavenly Mother.” pic.twitter.com/JZ6u6CMyjE
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) September 2, 2023
Meeting at Mongolia’s State Palace
📹HIGHLIGHTS | Pope Francis met authorities in Mongolia’s State Palace on his second day in Ulaanbaatar. He also
met priests and missionaries at the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul, and blessed a statue of Our Lady, known as Heavenly Mother, discovered in a landfill… pic.twitter.com/5QOfdXKowF
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) September 2, 2023
God loves littleness
While the Catholic population in Mongolia is one of the smallest in the world, “being little is not a problem,” Pope Francis assured the local missionaries, because God can accomplish great things with small numbers.
“God loves littleness, and through it he loves to accomplish great things, as Mary herself bears witness,” Pope Francis said in Ulaanbaatar’s Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul on Sept. 2.
Pope Francis arrives inside the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
🎥: Courtney Mares/EWTN pic.twitter.com/huuuwQQhKN
Family traveled 200+ kilometers to see pope
14-year-old Amar (left) and his Catholic family traveled more than 200 kilometers from their home in Mongolia to see the pope today. #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/K5m14xsh5G
Cardinal-elect bishop of Hong Kong on importance of Pope’s visit to the region
Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow, the bishop of Hong Kong, explains why Pope Francis’ visit to Mongolia is so meaningful to Asian Catholics on the “peripheries.” #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/wDCftuqPOt
— Courtney Mares (@catholicourtney) September 2, 2023
Official welcome ceremony for Pope
Pope Francis called Mongolia a “symbol of religious freedom” in his first speech in Mongolia and underlined how its democratic government is in a unique position to play “an important role on behalf of world peace.”
Traditional Mongolian dancers perform to welcome Pope Francis at the presidential palace. #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/rXddC4jf8n
Pope Francis arrives to the official welcome ceremony at Mongolia’s Sukhbaatar Square. #PopeInMongolia
📸 Vatican Media pic.twitter.com/zWwglvma3v
📹VIDEO | Pope Francis arrived in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. He was welcomed by a young woman who offered him a
People begin to gather
People began to gather in Mongolia’s Sukhbaatar Square for Pope Francis’ official welcome ceremony.
Good morning from Mongolia’s Sukhbaatar Square!
We are awaiting the pope’s arrival at the official welcome ceremony.
The Mongolian Honor Guard is standing watch in front of the State Palace, where Pope Francis will be meeting the president and prime minister. #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/ZkjpZlYCMB
Tuvshin, 38, a Christian from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is waiting to see the pope. He said that Mongolia is in “a tough neighborhood between Russia and China.”
“So I think he [Pope Francis] has much bigger reasons to make this pilgrimage to Mongolia.” #PopeinMongolia pic.twitter.com/PP8gJfYUIK
Sept. 1, 2023
Pope Francis received an enthusiastic welcome to Mongolia after a nearly 10-hour flight on the papal plane. Here are some pictures from his first day in the country.
Two little girls proudly show off their rosaries given to them by Pope Francis.
After dancing for Pope Francis outside the place where he will stay while in Mongolia, these two girls were so proud to show off the rosary beads given to them by the Pope. They couldn’t stop smiling. #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/rdjcNN4laA
A look at Mongolian culture at a traditional “Besreg Naadam” festival.
A taste of Mongolian culture at a traditional “Besreg Naadam” festival. #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/QmGmEIRSk6
Pope Francis made history Friday morning when he became the first pope to travel to Mongolia, the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign country.
Lovely to receive a public sms announcement from the Mongolian phone company as the Pope lands in the country. Sent to all phones on the network. #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/zKsgCH7RRv
Aug. 31, 2023
Pope Francis sent a telegram to China President Xi Jinping and the people of China as the papal plane entered Chinese airspace on its way to Mongolia.
Read the full article here:
📹VIDEO | Pope Francis is heading to Mongoliato meet with one of the smallest Catholic communities in the world that consists of only 2 native priests, 8 parishes, a challenging geography, social problems, but a lot of hope. #PopeInMongolia pic.twitter.com/5MXZXrVXKN
Special Prayers before leaving for the trip
As is customary before any papal trip, Pope Francis spent time in prayer before the icon of the Salus Populi Romani at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
This evening, as is customary before any papal trip, Pope Francis spent time in prayer before the icon of the Salus Populi Romani at the Basilica of St. Mary Major where he entrusted her with his upcoming Apostolic Journey to Mongolia.
Credit: Vatican Media pic.twitter.com/l52bBr7nsl
You must be logged in to post a comment.