Pope Francis arrives in Mongolia for his 43rd apostolic trip. He met with President U. Khurelsukh and praised Mongolia’s tradition of religious liberty.

Why Mongolia?

Mongolia is a predominantly Buddhist country, with fewer than 1,500 Catholics. However, Mongolia has a long history of respecting all religions, treating them equally dating back to the 13th century, when the Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan. This might be the key factor in Pope Francis's decision to visit Mongolia, as religious freedom is a central tenet of the Pope.

Pope’s influence

On the occasion of Pope Francis' visit, more than 150 journalists from 23 countries, including the New York Times and Reuters accompanied the visit. This exposure is likely to boost tourism to Mongolia, as he is the representative of 1.36 billion Catholics. His visit will surely influence 17% of the world's population to learn about Mongolia and become the reason to visit Mongolia. For instance, during the welcoming ceremony of the Pope, Catholics from other countries gathered in the main square of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar to catch a glimpse of him.

In addition to meeting with the Mongolian Catholic community, Pope Francis also met with representatives of other religions, including Buddhism, Islam, and Shamanism.

• Religious Tourism: In short, an interfaith meeting in Mongolia with the participation of Pope Francis is a sign that Mongolia may become an oasis of religious freedom in the future.

Finally... Since the 13th century, Mongolia has been one of the few countries that accepts and respects all religions. Using this advantage, if Mongolia becomes an oasis that has been able to consolidate religious freedom in Asia, it is possible to increase tourism and advance one step further in terms of diplomatic relations.