Pope Francis has arrived in Mongolia on his historic four-day visit to the Asian country.
That's where Francis was greeted by honour guard and state officials on the tarmac at the airport in Ulaanbaatar.
(Courtesy Reuters)
The pontiff's overnight flight passed through Chinese airspace, and Vatican protocol called for him to send a note of greetings to President Xi Jinping.
Pope Francis will meet with Mongolian state leaders and encourage the tiny Catholic community of just over 1,000 people there.
His visit comes as the Vatican's relations with Mongolia's two powerful neighbours -- Russia and China -- remain strained.
Still, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson in Beijing said the greeting showed "friendliness and goodwill."
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