SW News: Pope Francis described his visit to Mongolia as a pilgrimage of peace while signing the guest book in the Presidential Palace in Ulaanbaatar while paying a courtesy visit to President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh. In the book he wrote, “I am honored to walk the paths of encounter and friendship, which generate hope. May the great clear sky, which embraces the Mongolian land, illuminate new paths of fraternity”.

The head of the Vatican City State was accorded a warm, majestic welcome ceremony in Sukhbaatar Square. The open-air ceremony took place underneath a gigantic statue of Chinggis Khan, the founding father of the country. The Holy Father was welcomed by the head of state President Khurelsukh who was attired in a traditional cream robe and wide-brimmed hat and boots with upturned tips. Attending the ceremony were the members of the State Khural (parliament), religious leaders and the accompanying Vatican entourage.

During the welcome ceremony, there was a perfectly choreographed military parade by soldiers in ancient uniforms and they included troops on horseback. After the parade and the playing of the national anthems of both countries, the pope was escorted to the grand state palace. Inside the palace was a special ger, the traditional round tent of nomads made of hide and fabric, erected for the private meeting of the pontiff and President Khurelsukh.

It is the first time that the Buddhist-majority East Asian country is witnessing the visit of a Roman Pontiff. Pope Francis is making the visit to express his paternal closeness with the fledgling Catholic community comprising 1,500 believers. The Church is young as it was rebuilt in the early 1990s after the fall of communism and the easing of the Soviet yoke after seven long decades.