Pope joins shamans, monks and evangelicals to highlight Mongolia’s faith diversity, harmony

In the midst of China’s intensified measures against religious minorities, Pope Francis united with Mongolian shamans, Buddhist monks, and a Russian Orthodox priest on a significant Sunday to emphasize the pivotal role that various faiths can assume in forging global tranquility. This event took place during an interfaith gathering that underscored Mongolia’s longstanding practice of religious acceptance.

With profound attentiveness, Pope Francis engaged as twelve faith leaders, encompassing Jewish, Muslim, Bahai, Hindu, Shinto, and evangelical Christian representatives, expounded upon their convictions and their celestial connections. Notably, several participants cited the traditional Mongolian ger, a circular yurt, as a profound emblem of divine harmony—a welcoming haven of familial unity that is receptive to the heavens and extends hospitality to strangers.

This interfaith congregation unfolded within a theater in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, coinciding with Pope Francis’ visit to Mongolia—an inaugural journey for a pope to the region. This visit carries a twofold purpose: to minister to Mongolia’s modest yet burgeoning Catholic community and to spotlight the nation’s legacy of tolerance within a geopolitical context marked by intricate relations between the Holy See and neighboring China and Russia.

According to statistics provided by the Catholic nonprofit organization Aid to the Church in Need, Mongolia’s religious composition is as follows: 53% Buddhist, 39% atheist, 3% Muslim, 3% Shaman, and 2% Christian.

Later on that Sunday, Pope Francis was slated to lead a Mass at the sports stadium in the capital, which the Vatican indicated would include the presence of pilgrims from China. Notably, a small group of faithful from Xinjiang, China, exhibited their devotion during the pope’s encounter at the city’s cathedral on Saturday. Their display involved brandishing the Chinese flag and chanting, “All Chinese love you,” as the pope’s vehicle passed by.

Throughout the entire journey, the Vatican’s complex relationship with China and Beijing’s crackdown on religious minorities constituted an ever-present backdrop. However, the Vatican’s aspiration remains focused on highlighting Mongolia and its modest Catholic population of 1,450. Remarkably, mainland Chinese bishops were reportedly absent from the proceedings in Mongolia, unlike the participation of over two dozen bishops from various Asian countries who accompanied the pilgrims to the events.

Hong Kong Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow was present at the occasion, leading a group of 40 pilgrims from Asia to Mongolia. He regarded this event as emblematic of the universal reach of the church, steering away from discussing the nonattendance of his mainland Chinese counterparts. Instead, Cardinal Chow emphasized Pope Francis’ significance and the profound implications of his visit to Mongolia for the broader Asian ecclesiastical sphere.

“The Asian church is an ascending presence within the universal church,” Cardinal Chow conveyed to journalists, noting the church’s growth, albeit not as rapid as that of Africa.

Within China, President Xi Jinping has asserted the requirement for religious institutions, including Catholicism, to strictly adhere to directives issued by the Communist Party, fostering a process referred to as “Sinicization.” In the vast Xinjiang region, this endeavor has resulted in the demolition of numerous mosques, while churches have witnessed the removal of domes, minarets, and exterior crosses in most instances.

Although the Vatican and China inked an accord in 2018 regarding the contentious issue of Catholic bishop nominations, Beijing’s actions have contravened this agreement, marking a breach of trust.

The reporting on religious developments is supported through a partnership between Big Big News and The Conversation US, funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. The Associated Press bears sole responsibility for the content presented.

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