A quote from St Paul VI "For the Church the priority is not numbers" helps us to understand the reasons for Pope Francis’ upcoming journey to Mongolia.
Pope Francis is set to depart for Mongolia, a journey he has deeply desired, a goal once considered by St. John Paul II, following the rejuvenation of a Christian community by missionaries in the early 1990s. The Church, which will be graced by the presence of the Successor of Peter in the heart of Asia, is 'small in number but vibrant in faith and rich in benevolence.' During this time, Pope Francis will not only interact with the nation's 1,500 Catholics but also engage with the entire Mongolian population, characterized as 'noble' and 'wise,' upholding their profound Buddhist tradition.
What motivates the pope's expedition to Mongolia? Why does he allocate five days of his schedule (including two days of travel and three days on the ground) to visit such a modest assembly of Catholics? Could 'geopolitical' considerations be at play, given its proximity to the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China? In actuality, the driving force behind this journey to the Asian periphery holds no 'geopolitical' undertones and certainly doesn't define Jorge Mario Bergoglio's papacy.
On Monday, November 30, 1970, Pope St. Paul VI embarked on an extensive voyage, reaching the Samoan Islands in the Pacific Ocean. While conducting Mass in the village of Leulumoega Tuai on Upolu island's northwestern coast, he discarded the majestic 'we' usually employed by pontiffs and conveyed, 'I am not drawn to you by a desire for travel or any personal interest. I am here because we are all siblings; or, to rephrase, you are my sons and daughters, and it's fitting for me, as the father of the Catholic Church family, to show each person their entitlement to equal affection. Do you comprehend the meaning of the term 'Catholic Church'? It signifies that the Church is universal, meant for all, without being foreign anywhere. Each human, irrespective of nationality, ethnicity, age, or education, has a place in the Church.'
The Church: a place for all. The Church, where quantity isn't paramount, and where no one is an outsider, irrespective of language, culture, group, or nation. It's the Church 'para todos' - for all - which Pope Francis highlighted in Lisbon. Less than a month after WYD, the Bishop of Rome is once again on the move, conveying to his 'siblings in Mongolia' his delight in journeying to be among them as a brother to all.