Pope heads to Mongolia to minister to its few Catholics and complete centuries-old East-West mission

  • A child runs past a mural showing Pope Francis with depiction of nomadic daily life in Mongolian outside a church in Ulaanbaatar, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A child runs past a mural showing Pope Francis with depiction of nomadic daily life in Mongolian outside a church in Ulaanbaatar, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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  • Visitors to a church past near a mural showing Pope Francis with depiction of nomadic daily life in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Visitors to a church past near a mural showing Pope Francis with depiction of nomadic daily life in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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  • Sanjaajav Tserenkhand, the Assistant Priest of Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, conducts a mass at the Catholic Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Sanjaajav Tserenkhand, the Assistant Priest of Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, conducts a mass at the Catholic Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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  • A Sister prays during a mass at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A Sister prays during a mass at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Mongolian faithfuls pray during a mass at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Mongolian faithfuls pray during a mass at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Sanjaajav Tserenkhand, the Assistant Priest of Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, gives communion during a mass in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Sanjaajav Tserenkhand, the Assistant Priest of Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, gives communion during a mass in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A Mongolian man walks past a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis near a church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A Mongolian man walks past a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis near a church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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  • A children plays near a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis hung outside the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A children plays near a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis hung outside the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A Mongolian child plays with a ball near a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A Mongolian child plays with a ball near a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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  • Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia this week to minister to one of the world's tiniest and newest Catholic communities, the first-ever visit by a Roman pontiff to the East Asian country. His trip is a historic meeting of East and West. Officially, there are only 1,450 Catholics in Mongolia and the Catholic Church has only had a sanctioned presence since 1992, after Mongolia shrugged off its Soviet-allied communist government.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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    Vatican Pope Mongolia

    Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia this week to minister to one of the world's tiniest and newest Catholic communities, the first-ever visit by a Roman pontiff to the East Asian country. His trip is a historic meeting of East and West. Officially, there are only 1,450 Catholics in Mongolia and the Catholic Church has only had a sanctioned presence since 1992, after Mongolia shrugged off its Soviet-allied communist government.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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  • Pope Francis flanked by Father Leonardo Sapienza, left, delivers his speech during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at The Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia this week to minister to one of the world's tiniest and newest Catholic communities, the first-ever visit by a Roman pontiff to the East Asian country. His trip is a historic meeting of East and West. Officially, there are only 1,450 Catholics in Mongolia and the Catholic Church has only had a sanctioned presence since 1992, after Mongolia shrugged off its Soviet-allied communist government. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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    Vatican Pope Mongolia

    Pope Francis flanked by Father Leonardo Sapienza, left, delivers his speech during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at The Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia this week to minister to one of the world's tiniest and newest Catholic communities, the first-ever visit by a Roman pontiff to the East Asian country. His trip is a historic meeting of East and West. Officially, there are only 1,450 Catholics in Mongolia and the Catholic Church has only had a sanctioned presence since 1992, after Mongolia shrugged off its Soviet-allied communist government. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
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  • A wedding couple walks in front of the Government Palace also known as State Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A wedding couple walks in front of the Government Palace also known as State Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A woman carries a child on the street of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A woman carries a child on the street of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Residents ride a public bus past a Mongolian flag in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Residents ride a public bus past a Mongolian flag in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Children play near the equestrian statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar on Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Children play near the equestrian statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar on Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • A Mongolian youths rest on a lawn near Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A Mongolian youths rest on a lawn near Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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  • A woman carries a child past a cross and Christian quotes on the street in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    A woman carries a child past a cross and Christian quotes on the street in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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  • Mongolian youths play volleyball on a lawn near Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Mongolian youths play volleyball on a lawn near Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
    ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Residents walk down a street in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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    Vatican Mongolia

    Residents walk down a street in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
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A child runs past a mural showing Pope Francis with depiction of nomadic daily life in Mongolian outside a church in Ulaanbaatar, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Visitors to a church past near a mural showing Pope Francis with depiction of nomadic daily life in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Sanjaajav Tserenkhand, the Assistant Priest of Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, conducts a mass at the Catholic Church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A Sister prays during a mass at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Mongolian faithfuls pray during a mass at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Sanjaajav Tserenkhand, the Assistant Priest of Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral, gives communion during a mass in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A Mongolian man walks past a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis near a church in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A children plays near a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis hung outside the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A Mongolian child plays with a ball near a banner promoting the visit of Pope Francis in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia this week to minister to one of the world's tiniest and newest Catholic communities, the first-ever visit by a Roman pontiff to the East Asian country. His trip is a historic meeting of East and West. Officially, there are only 1,450 Catholics in Mongolia and the Catholic Church has only had a sanctioned presence since 1992, after Mongolia shrugged off its Soviet-allied communist government.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
Pope Francis flanked by Father Leonardo Sapienza, left, delivers his speech during his weekly general audience in the Paul VI hall at The Vatican, Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023. Pope Francis is traveling to Mongolia this week to minister to one of the world's tiniest and newest Catholic communities, the first-ever visit by a Roman pontiff to the East Asian country. His trip is a historic meeting of East and West. Officially, there are only 1,450 Catholics in Mongolia and the Catholic Church has only had a sanctioned presence since 1992, after Mongolia shrugged off its Soviet-allied communist government. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)
A wedding couple walks in front of the Government Palace also known as State Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A woman carries a child on the street of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Residents ride a public bus past a Mongolian flag in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Children play near the equestrian statue of Damdin Sukhbaatar on Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A Mongolian youths rest on a lawn near Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A woman carries a child past a cross and Christian quotes on the street in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Mongolian youths play volleyball on a lawn near Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Residents walk down a street in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023. When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
NICOLE WINFIELD
Updated

When Pope Francis travels to Mongolia this week, he will in some ways be completing a mission begun by the 13th-century Pope Innocent IV, who dispatched emissaries east to ascertain the intentions of the rapidly expanding Mongol Empire and beseech its leaders to halt the bloodshed and convert. Francis last year upped the Mongolian church's standing when he made a cardinal out of its leader, the Italian missionary Giorgio Marengo.