CNN —Pope Francis formally began his 8,000-kilometer trip to Mongolia on Saturday, a country sandwiched between Russia and China that has a tiny Catholic population.
With just 1,500 Catholics in the entire country, the visit was lacking the usual fanfare and mass crowds typically associated with Pope Francis’ trips abroad.
Yang Guang from China told Reuters: “I’m just extremely happy because this is the first time I’ve seen him.
He came at the invite of the government and spent the first day resting,Mongolian President Ukhnaagin Khurelsukh signs the honor book alingside Pope Francis on Saturday.
China is officially an atheist state, but religious practice is legal in the country – albeit under tight government supervision and surveillance.
Persons:
Pope Francis, Pope Francis ’, Pope, Yang Guang, “, I’ve, It’s, I’m, Ukhnaagin Khurelsukh, alingside Pope Francis, Remo Casilli, Madame Tsetsege, ” Pope Francis, Saints Peter, Louise Delmotte, ”, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh
Organizations:
CNN, Reuters, Vatican Media, Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, Saints, Paul Catholic Cathedral, Vatican News
Locations:
Mongolia, Russia, China, Ulaanbaatar, Portugal, Mongolian, Moscow, Ukraine