Pope Francis went this afternoon to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome to visit the Virgin after having spent four days in Mongolia, a country sandwiched between Russia and China, as is tradition at the end of each Apostolic journey.
After 10 hours of flight, 8,230 kilometers traveled and flying over 10 countries, Pope Francis returned to Rome on the ITA Airways A330 plane, and the first thing he did upon landing was visit the Virgin Salus Populi Romani to thank her for her 43rd birthday. international apostolic journey, where he found the “small and lively” Catholic community.
After this trip, the Holy Father became the first Pontiff to visit this Asian country, where more than 3 million inhabitants live, of which only 1,500 are Catholic. The religions of Mongolia are Buddhism (53%), Islam (3%), shamanism (3%), Christianity (2%), and atheism (39%).
This trip is yet another example of the Pope’s desire to visit countries with a Catholic minority, to bring their closeness to their inhabitants and that of the entire Catholic Church.
Precisely, the Holy Father encouraged the small Catholic community not to fear its smallness and indicated the best path of all: the cross of Christ; After all, we are all “God’s nomads”, pilgrims in search of happiness thirsty for love. And only the Christian faith is the answer.
In Mongolia, he reaffirmed his call for peace and spoke of the responsibility of religions in pacifying conflicts and the importance of consistency in witness.
The ITA Airways A330 plane carrying the Holy Father, his entourage, and 70 journalists from different media landed at Fiumicino International Airport at 4:01 p.m. (local Italian time) after a ten-hour flight.
Shortly after taking off, the Holy Father sent a telegram to the president of the country that welcomed him during these days, Khürelsükh Ukhnaa, in which he expressed his gratitude for the hospitality.
Later, while the papal plane was flying over the People’s Republic of China, Pope Francis invoked abundant divine blessings on the Chinese president and his people.
The Bishop of Rome gave a total of five speeches over three days in Ulaanbaatar.
On Friday, September 1, at 10 in the morning, he arrived at the “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport in Ulaanbaatar. That day, Pope Francis moved to the Apostolic Nunciature to rest.
A day later, on Saturday the 2nd, Sukhbaatar Square hosted the welcoming ceremony at 9:00. Later, at 9:30, the Pontiff paid a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic, Ukhnaagiin Khürelsükh, at the Government Palace. Later, at 10:20, he met, as usual, with the authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps in the “Ikh Mongol” room of the Government Palace. There he delivered his first public speech on him.
In the afternoon, at 4:00 p.m., the meeting with the bishops, priests, missionaries, consecrated men and women and pastoral agents took place in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, where he gave his second speech.
On Sunday, September 3, at 10:00 in the morning, the Bishop of Rome participated in the ecumenical and interreligious meeting at the “Hun Theatre.”
At 16:00, the Holy Father presided over the Holy Mass inside the “Steppe Arena”, a stadium, and gave the homily. On Monday the 4th, which was the last day of his visit, the Successor of Peter met, at 9:30, with the charity workers and inaugurated the House of Mercy.
In this context, he gave his last speech. Later, the farewell ceremony took place at the “Chinggis Khaan” International Airport at 11:30, where it took off at around 12:00, arriving at around 16:01 at the Rome/Fiumicino International Airport.