Pope praises Mongolia's tradition of religious freedom

On September 2, during his first visit to Mongolia, Pope Francis praised Mongolia's tradition of religious freedom since the time of Genghis Khan.

Pope Francis and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh at Sukhbaatar Square in front of the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar on September 2, 2023. (Source: Vatican)

Pope Francis has praised Mongolia's tradition of religious freedom since the time of Genghis Khan's founding, in his first visit to the landlocked Asian nation.

Pope Francis met with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh at the national palace and wrote in the guestbook that he was visiting “a country that is young and ancient, modern and rich in tradition” as a pilgrim of peace .

The Pope is visiting Mongolia in a diplomatic foray into a region where the Vatican has long had troubled relations, with Russia to the north and China to the south.

While Christianity has been present in the region for hundreds of years, the Catholic Church has only been allowed a presence in Mongolia since 1992, after the country enshrined religious freedom in its constitution.

Although Catholicism is accepted and legal, foreign missionaries working here complain that local authorities impose restrictions that the Vatican is hoping will be lifted with a comprehensive bilateral agreement.

Mongolia is a predominantly Buddhist country with just 1,450 Catholics and is the 43rd country Pope Francis has visited in more than 10 years since being elected head of the Vatican in March 2013.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/giao-hoang-ca-ngoi-truyen-thong-tu-do-ton-giao-cua-mong-co-240672.html