On his return to Rome from South Sudan in February, Pope Francis offered the possibility of a visit to Mongolia this September. It would be the first papal pilgrimage to the country. According to Ulaanbaatar based Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, they are in the “being ready” mode but not yet technically starting the preparations for Pope Francis’s visit.

It will be a very historic visit, with a great impact on bilateral relations between the Holy See and Mongolia, as well as a great joy for the small Catholic community in Mongolia.

An invitation from the president is the fundamental requirement for a papal visit to any country. Last summer, Aug. 24, just a few days before the consistory, a delegation from the Mongolian government, including a former president, went to Rome and handed Francis an official invitation from the current president.

The majority religion is Mongolian Buddhism. Buddhism came to Mongolia at different moments of its history and mainly from Tibet. So the roots of Mongolian Buddhism are in Tibet, but in recent years people have started referring to “Mongolian Buddhism” because it has become a particular form of Buddhism.

In May, 2022, Carinal Giorgio Marengo traveled to Rome accompanied by two Mongolian monks. Together, they comprised the first official Mongolian Buddhist delegation to meet with the Pope.