Dear friends,

I am very pleased to greet all of you, and in particular Venerable D. Javzandorj, Abbot of Gandantegchinlen Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, together with His Eminence Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar. Your first visit to the Vatican has a particular significance as it reflects the friendly and enduring relations between the Holy See and the noble people of Mongolia, a friendship that I had the privilege of experiencing during my Apostolic Journey to your country in 2023.

A highlight of that visit was the interreligious gathering, in which we reflected on the profound spiritual yearning of all men and women, whom we can liken to a vast group of brothers and sisters journeying through life with eyes raised to heaven. I thus welcome you today “as a brother to all of you in the name of our shared religious quest” (Address to the Ecumenical and Interreligious Meeting, Ulaanbaatar, 3 September 2023).

Your country has undergone a profound religious renewal since the 1990s, for which I commend your dedication and contributions. By reviving traditional spiritual practices and integrating them into the nation’s development, Mongolia has reclaimed its rich religious heritage while demonstrating its dedication to a successful democratic transition. Moreover, your commitment to religious freedom and dialogue among the different religious denominations has cultivated a space of mutual respect for all traditions, fostering a society enriched not only by material prosperity but also by values essential to fraternal solidarity. In promoting these values, religions play a pivotal role in building a just and cohesive society.

Your own visit is taking place towards the beginning of this Jubilee Year. In the Christian tradition, this is a time of pilgrimage, reconciliation and hope. In a time marked by natural disasters and human conflicts, this Holy Year calls us to the shared goal of building a more peaceful world that fosters harmony among peoples and with our common home. The universal longing for peace challenges all of us to take concrete action. In a particular way, as religious leaders rooted in our respective teachings, we bear the responsibility of inspiring humanity to renounce violence and embrace a culture of peace.

It is my hope that your time in Rome will be both enjoyable and enriching, and that your meeting with the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue will serve as an opportunity for deepening cooperation in promoting a society founded on dialogue, fraternity, religious freedom, justice and social harmony. I encourage you to persevere in fostering these principles and in strengthening relations with the Catholic Church in Mongolia, for the sake of the peace and wellbeing of all.

To you and all those you represent in the Buddhist monasteries of Mongolia, I extend my prayerful good wishes. May you remain steadfast in your commitment, active in compassion and joyful in hope. Thank you!