Pope Praises Religious Freedom on First Papal Visit to Mongolia

Pope Francis, right, with Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh during a welcome ceremony at Sukhbaatar Square in Ulaanbaatar on Sept. 2.Photographer: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images
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Pope Francis praised Mongolia for its openness to religious freedoms as he met with political leaders during the first-ever papal visit to the nation, hemmed between Russia and China.

Francis, speaking alongside Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa in Ulaanbaatar, also applauded the nation’s efforts to promote peace and preservation of the environment. The Pope, who arrived on Friday, is visiting Mongolia’s tiny Catholic population of about 1,500, with only 25 priests, according to the Vatican.