Holy See and Mongolia: 30 years of good relations

By Amedeo Lomonaco & Linda Bordoni

The Buddhist delegation from Mongolia is engaged in an intense schedule of conferences and appointments within the Vatican spanning Friday and Saturday because it marks 30 years from the institution of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Mongolia in addition to 30 years of the Catholic Church’s presence within the nation.

On Friday morning the delegation was obtained by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, whereas within the afternoon members visited the Vatican Museums. The spotlight on Saturday is undoubtedly the scheduled viewers with Pope Francis.

Chatting with Vatican Radio, Father Giorgio Marengo the pinnacle of the apostolic prefecture of Ulaanbataar, described the go to as an vital step for interreligious dialogue.

“We’re very proud of this occasion, which we now have been engaged on for nearly two years with the good cooperation, the good help, of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue,” father Marengo stated noting that there have the truth is been visits to the Vatican by different distinguished figures of Mongolian Buddhism, however “they have been unofficial visits.”

That is the primary time, he defined, {that a} delegation is coming to fulfill the Holy Father, “so it is a vital chapter of interreligious dialogue, to which the Church pays a lot consideration in Mongolia.”

The Catholic Church’s presence in Mongolia

There are about 1,400 Catholics within the central Asian nation that hosts 8 parishes. Father Marengo describes the truth and says “We like this picture of a Church that resembles that of the Acts of the Apostles.”

“There are few nations on the earth the place Christians who’re members of our communities are first or second technology. It’s an journey of the Spirit and of nice missionary enthusiasm, which had as its protagonist, for not less than two of those many years, the late Bishop Wenceslaus Padilla, who was the actual founding father of this Church,” he stated.

Father Marengo went on to elucidate that the primary decade was marked by the evangelizing work of a primary group of missionaries within the aftermath of the top of the communist regime, which had closely conditioned spiritual freedom within the nation.

“The primary decade was marked by these small however very vital steps, particularly within the area of human promotion,” he stated.

The second decade, Father Marengo described as considered one of institution and beginning of the primary Christian communities and the start of some religion journeys by the native inhabitants.

The third decade, he continued, is symbolized by the ordination of the primary Mongolian priest, in 2016, “and we feature this picture as a terrific present of the Spirit for this nascent Church.”

Together with him, right now, the apostolic prefect added,  we now have a second native priest, who was ordained in October final yr.

Diplomatic relations

As talked about, this official go to marks the 30th anniversary of the institution of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and Ulaanbaatar.

These fruitful years, Father Marengo stated, have been marked by a rise in constructive dialogue and cooperation “which we hope will lead to concrete steps that can consolidate the authorized standing of the Church in Mongolia, in addition to acknowledge and affirm mutual cooperation.”

The principle challenges

Mongolia is a nation that stretches between imposing mountain ranges within the north and arid expanses within the south. Thirty % of the inhabitants is nomadic. The pastoral challenges in such a territory the place solely about 1,400 individuals are baptized out of a complete inhabitants of over 3 million are outstanding.

“I’ve tried to summarize what the pastoral priorities could also be within the letter I shared with Mongolian missionaries and trustworthy,” Father Marengo stated, highlighting, to start with, the problem of serving to individuals who have taken this essential step to deepen their religion and make it an increasing number of related to on a regular basis life.

A second facet regards the problem of communion and fraternity, “each amongst us missionaries from varied congregations” and among the many Christian communities themselves, Father Marengo stated.

 “Though we’re few in quantity, we more and more really feel the should be ‘in tune’ on the paths of the Gospel, conscious additionally that comradeship is an indication of the Lord’s presence amongst us.

A 3rd facet, he concluded, is the proclamation and witness that should mark this Church that for essentially the most half goes forth outwards