Pope Francis returns from Apostolic Journey to Mongolia

Icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani

Source: Vatican Media

Pope Francis departed from Ulaanbaatar aboard the papal plane bound for Rome at the end of his Apostolic Journey to Mongolia. He land at Rome's Fiumicino Airport at around 5pm.

On his final day in Mongolia, the Pope celebrated Mass in private at the Apostolic Prefecture, and expressed his gratitude to the staff and Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, the Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, who has accompanied the Holy Father throughout his visit.

As a sign of his appreciation, the Pope gifted Cardinal Marengo a golden chalice. As a sign of his fatherly care, Pope Francis gave the Apostolic Prefecture a statue of St Joseph.

A press release from the Vatican Media Office said the sculpture depicts the Saint as the silent guardian of our Lord. "Saint Joseph supports with his left hand the tiny Salvator Mundi in the act of blessing, while with his right hand he holds the staff that, according to the apocrypha, miraculously bloomed with lilies at the time when the priests of the Jerusalem Temple were to select the husband of Mary from among the unmarried descendants of the tribe of Judah."

The final event of his Visit to Mongolia was a stop at the 'House of Mercy', a Church-run clinic for the poor and refuge for victims of domestic violence and homeless people.

The Pope inaugurated and blessed the charitable work, and expressed his gratitude to the Church in Mongolia for showing such great care and concern for people facing economic difficulty and marginalization.

"Generous service to our neighbours," he said, "has distinguished this vibrant portion of the people of God from its inception."

On the return flight Pope Francis spoke with journalists on the plane. To read the text of the questions and answers see:
www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-09/pope-francis-mongolia-return-press-conference-synod-ideologies.html

After landing in Rome's Fiumicino airport this evening, Pope Francis made a brief visit to the Basilica of St Mary Major to pray, before returning to his home in Casa Santa Marta. The Holy Father usually visit here at the beginning and end of his Apostolic Journeys abroad.

This time he left a bouquet of flowers on the altar under the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, which had been given to him by a young Mongolian girl just before he boarded the papal plane in Ulaanbaatar.