Pope Francis and his entourage have departed from Ulaanbaatar's Chinggis Khan International Airport, marking the conclusion of his Apostolic Journey to Mongolia. The Pope took off on the papal plane bound for Rome at 6:03 AM (GMT+8).

He is expected to arrive at Rome's Fiumicino Airport at around 5 PM (GMT+2).

On his last day in Mongolia, Pope Francis held a private Mass at the Apostolic Prefecture and conveyed his thanks to the staff and Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, the Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, who had accompanied him throughout his visit.

As a gesture of appreciation, Pope presented Cardinal Marengo with a valuable golden chalice. Additionally, as a symbol of his paternal care, Pope Francis gifted the Apostolic Prefecture with a statue of St. Joseph.

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the sculpture portrays St. Joseph as the silent guardian of Jesus. In the statue, St. Joseph supports the tiny Salvator Mundi with his left hand, blessing it, while his right hand holds the staff that, according to apocryphal accounts, miraculously bloomed with lilies when the priests of the Jerusalem Temple were selecting Mary's husband from among the unmarried descendants of the tribe of Judah.

The final highlight of Pope Francis' visit was a visit to the "House of Mercy," a Church-operated clinic for the impoverished and a haven for victims of domestic violence and homelessness.

During his visit, Pope inaugurated and blessed this charitable initiative, expressing his deep gratitude to the Church in Mongolia for its dedicated care and support for individuals facing economic hardship and social marginalization.

He commended the Church for its enduring commitment to serving the needs of its neighbors, a commitment that has been evident from its very inception.