The Catholic Church's Presence in Mongolia: An Overview

The Catholic Church in Mongolia has a discontinuous presence dating back to the 7th-10th century. After a period of absence, Catholic missionaries returned to Mongolia in 1992, and the Church has since grown slowly but steadily. Currently, there are around 1,500 Catholics in Mongolia, served by one bishop, 25 priests, and 30 women religious. The Church focuses on social, health, and education initiatives, and has good relations with the Mongolian authorities and other religions, particularly Buddhism. The main pastoral challenges include deepening the faith of Mongolian Catholics, promoting unity among missionaries, and proclaiming the Gospel in a society where 40 percent of the population identifies as atheist.