杏MAP导航

By Federico Piana & Edoardo Giribaldi

鈥淭he Church in Mongolia is waiting with great trepidation for the coming of the Holy Father.鈥� Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, thus remarked on the collective enthusiasm accompanying the imminent Apostolic Journey in the Asian country that will take place from August 31 (date of departure from Rome) to September 4.

Speaking with Vatican News, Cardinal Marengo presented the activities going on among the local community in preparation for the upcoming visit.

Spiritual preparation

鈥淥ne aspect worthy to be mentioned,鈥� according to the Apostolic Prefect, 鈥渋s that we are encouraging our Catholic community to intensify the Marian prayer, especially through the prayer of the Holy Rosary.鈥�

The 鈥渟piritual preparation鈥� goes hand-in-hand with practical experiences, such as a special pilgrimage to a wooden Blessed Virgin Mary statue found 鈥渋n a dumping area in the northern part of Mongolia.鈥�

This preparation path began on March 25, the day the Church celebrates the Annunciation of the Lord, and ended on August 15, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

鈥淚n a great embrace between two great solemnities,鈥� Cardinal Marengo explained, 鈥渨e would like to welcome the gift, the grace of the visit of the Holy Father, and to get everyone involved too.鈥�

Gratitude and belonging

Speaking about the meaning that 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� visit has for Mongolia, the Apostolic Prefect described it as 鈥渁 great honor and, at the same time, a very special grace.鈥�

The presence of the Holy Father is a sign of hope and a concrete demonstration that he 鈥渃ares for this tiny flock of Catholics in Mongolia.鈥�

Bilateral relations

Cardinal Marengo also examined the Apostolic Journey from a diplomatic point of view. The local government is preparing 鈥渨ith great expectations,鈥� recalling 鈥渢he ancient roots of the bilateral relations鈥� between Mongolia and the Holy See.

Relations that will be further deepened and 鈥渨ill know a new phase of intensification.鈥�

鈥淲e go back to the 13th century,鈥� the Apostolic Prefect recalled, 鈥渨hen 杏MAP导航 Innocent IV sent his special envoy, John of Plano Carpini, Franciscan friar, to visit the Mongolian emperors and to establish a link, a connection with them.鈥�

Open to gifts and graces

However, 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� journey will most definitely impact the hearts of the local Catholic community. 鈥淲e are open to the many gifts and graces that the visit itself will bring about, and we are praying for those graces," Cardinal Marengo concluded.