Ulaanbaatar, September 2, 2023 /MONTSAME. Head of the Holy See Pope Francis is paying the State Visit to Mongolia at the invitation of the President of Mongolia Khurelsukh Ukhnaa. President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and Pope Francis have held a tête-à-tête meeting.

During the meeting, they discussed expanding friendly relations between Mongolia and the Holy See, which have the relations from ancient time, deepening cooperation in the culture, education, science, and humanitarian fields, as well as some issues of international relations.

President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and Pope Francis mutually affirmed the importance of each country's participation in solving global problems such as climate change, desertification, and environmental degradation, and exchanged views on cooperation within the framework of the "One Billion Trees", "Food Supply and Security" and "Healthy Mongolian" national campaigns.

Scholars believe that the official relationship between the two countries began when the Khaans of the Great Mongol Empire communicated with the Popes of the time in the 13th century through sending messengers and discussed matters of nations.

A letter sent by Pope Innocent IV to the Emperor of the Great Mongol Khaan Guyug in 1245 and reply letter of Khaan Guyug’ in 1246 are valuable sources of evidence for the historical relationship between the two countries.

Political Relations:

Mongolia and the Holy See established diplomatic relations on April 4, 1992. 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, and within the framework of the anniversary, the President of Mongolia invited the Head of the Holy See to visit Mongolia.

Historically, in the 13th century, a messenger was sent from the Pope to the Khaan of the Great Mongol Empire to deliver a letter.

A letter sent by Khaan Guyug of the Great Mongol Empire to Pope Innocent IV through the envoy Plano Carpini in 1246 is currently kept in the Vatican Apostolic Archive formerly known as the Vatican Secret Archive. The letter written in Persian has the seal of the Khaan of the Great Mongol Empire printed twice. Since then, documents, proving that the Khaans of the Ilkhanate communicated with the Pope are also kept in the Vatican Museum.

Key mutual visits

From the Mongolian side

In 2000 - President of Mongolia Bagabandi Natsag

In 2011 - President of Mongolia Elbegdorj Tsakhia

From the Holy See side

In 2023 - Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See’s Secretariat of State, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher

Loans, assistance, and their use:

The Vatican donated 1,000 kg of medicines and medical supplies to Mongolia as humanitarian aid In 1993 and USD 31,000 for the relief of disaster caused by forest and field fires in the spring of 1996. Also, Pope John Paul II donated USD 50,000 and the Pontifical Council COR UNUM for Human and Christian Development donated USD 30,000 to eliminate the damage caused by the zud (winter natural disaster) in 2000. Caritas Internationalis, a Catholic international organization raised money to help herdsmen affected by zud, implementing short and long-term projects to provide them with livestock.

Scholarships:

With full Vatican scholarships, 9 students have studied in the Philippines and 2 students in Italy since 1992.