He had anticipated it himself on multiple occasions, professing a desire to visit this country of the vast steppes, a pivot between Russia and China, where the Catholic population is 0.02 percent and where he created the first cardinal, the young missionary Giorgio Marengo, the previous year. Now it has been confirmed that Pope Francis will visit Mongolia from August 31 to September 4. It will thus be the pontificate's 43rd international apostolic voyage. Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican Press Office, announced the invitation from "civil and ecclesiastical authorities" and that "the program and further details will be communicated in the coming weeks." Francis will be the first Pope to visit the country in Asia.
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