Pope Francis Commends Mongolia for Religious Freedom and Urges an End to Corruption Threat
In his historic visit to Mongolia, Pope Francis lauded the nation’s longstanding tradition of religious freedom, which dates back to the era of Genghis Khan. The Pope emphasized the importance of peace and condemned the insidious threat of corruption during his meeting with Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.
The Holy See’s first-ever papal visit to Mongolia serves both as a spiritual journey to minister to the country’s small Catholic community of 1,450 individuals and as a diplomatic endeavor to engage with a region where relations with neighboring nations Russia and China have been complex.
Although Christianity has had a presence in the region for centuries, the Catholic Church was officially recognized in Mongolia only in 1992, following the country’s departure from its Soviet-allied communist regime and the subsequent embracement of religious freedom enshrined in its constitution.
Pope Francis praised the nation’s respect for religious liberty, noting that such tolerance was even evident during the Mongol Empire’s expansion, which covered vast territories as far as Hungary. Today, Mongolia is predominantly Buddhist with strong ties to leading Tibetan lamas like the Dalai Lama.
The Pope espoused the idea of embracing Mongolia’s historical model of recognizing the outstanding qualities of diverse peoples for collective development. Referencing the 13th-century period of relative political stability within the Mongol Empire, known as pax mongolica, Francis called for a contemporary period of fraternity and peace devoid of conflicts.
President Khurelsukh also evoked the spirit of pax mongolica, emphasizing Mongolia’s commitment to peaceful multilateralism on the global stage. He highlighted the achievements of this historical period in fostering mutual respect among nations and the coexistence of various civilizations.
During his visit, Pope Francis presented President Khurelsukh with an authenticated copy of the letter Guyuk Khan, then-ruler of the Mongol Empire, wrote to Pope Innocent IV in 1246. The translation of the letter indicated Guyuk’s refusal to convert to Christianity, asserting that God supported him in his conquests.
In addition to acknowledging Mongolia’s historical and religious contributions, Pope Francis commended the nation’s efforts to protect the environment. Mongolia, characterized by extreme weather conditions, is considered one of the most affected countries by climate change. The United Nations Development Program reports that 77% of its land is degraded due to overgrazing and climate change. Mongolia is also set to host the 2026 U.N. conference on desertification and has initiated a campaign to plant one billion trees across its vast steppes and grasslands.
Amidst his praise, Pope Francis addressed the need to combat corruption, indirectly referring to a recent scandal involving Mongolia’s coal trade with China, which allegedly resulted in the theft of 385,000 tons of coal. The Pope described corruption as a consequence of an unscrupulous mentality that impoverishes entire nations and undermines fraternity. He emphasized the critical role religions play in safeguarding against corruption, which poses a severe threat to the development of any human community.
Recognizing the Mongolian government’s declaration of 2023 as an anti-corruption year, Pope Francis acknowledged their commitment to Transparency International’s anti-graft principles. Transparency International’s 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index placed Mongolia at 116th globally.
Later in his visit, Pope Francis met with priests and missionaries who serve Mongolia’s small Catholic community at the St. Peter and Paul Cathedral in the capital city.
As Pope Francis concluded his visit to Mongolia, he left behind a message urging peace, religious freedom, environmental conservation, and the fight against corruption. His visit served as an important step in fostering dialogue and understanding between the Catholic Church and a region that bears significant geopolitical weight.
