ULAANBAATAR — Pope Francis on Monday wrapped up a historic trip to Mongolia which took on international connotations because of his overtures to its neighbor China over freedom of religion.
At the end of a Mass on Sunday, the pope sent greetings to China, calling its citizens a “noble” people and asking Catholics in China to be “good Christians and good citizens”.
On Monday, China’s foreign ministry said it has taken a positive attitude on improving relations with the Vatican.
Beijing has maintained communications with the Vatican, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a press briefing when asked about the pope’s comments in Mongolia.
The main purpose of Francis’ trip was to visit the tiny Catholic community. He ended his five-day mission on Monday with a stop to inaugurate the House of Mercy, which provides health care to the most needy in the Mongolian capital as well as to the homeless, victims of domestic abuse and migrants.
Situated in a converted school and the brainchild of Mongolia’s top Catholic cleric, Italian Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, the House of Mercy will coordinate the work of Catholic missionary institutions and local volunteers.
“The true progress of a nation is not gauged by economic wealth, much less by investment in the illusory power of armaments, but by its ability to provide for the health, education and integral development of its people,” Francis said at the house.
He also said he wanted to dispel “the myth” that the aim of Catholic institutions was to convert people to the religion “as if caring for others were a way of enticing people to ‘join up'”.
Mostly Buddhist Mongolia has only 1,450 Catholics in a population of 3.3 million and on Sunday just about the entire Catholic community was under the same roof with the pope.
On Monday, around two dozen Chinese Catholics surrounded the pope’s motorcade attempting to receive his blessings.
The devotees, who identified themselves as Catholics from mainland China and wearing uniforms with the phrase “Love Jesus”, crowded outside the House of Mercy.
As Francis’s motorcade departed the center, they sang a Christian hymn dedicated to the pope in Mandarin and attempted to dodge security and reach his car. One woman managed to get through security and received a blessing.
“I am just too happy, I can’t even control my emotions now,” said the woman.
Mongolia was part of China until 1921 and the pope’s trip was dotted by allusions or appeals to the superpower next door, where the Vatican has scratchy relations with its ruling Communist Party.
On Saturday, in words that appeared to be aimed at China rather than Mongolia, Francis said governments have nothing to fear from the Catholic Church because it has no political agenda.
Beijing has been following a policy of “Sinicisation” of religion, trying to root out foreign influences and enforce obedience to the Communist Party.
China’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, but in recent years the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the party’s authority.
In December, the United States designated China, Iran and Russia, among others, as countries of particular concern under the Religious Freedom Act over severe violations.
A landmark 2018 agreement between the Vatican and China on the appointment of bishops has been tenuous at best, with the Vatican complaining that Beijing has violated it several times.
The phrase used by the pope on Sunday – “good Christians and good citizens” – is one the Vatican uses frequently in trying to convince communist governments that giving Catholics more freedom would only help their countries’ social and economic progression.
– Reporting by Philip Pullella and Joseph Campbell; Editing by Michael Perry and Angus MacSwan
