Mr Ambassador, I take this occasion to assure you of the desire of Mongolia’s Catholic citizens to contribute to the common good by sharing fully in the life of the nation. The Church’s primary mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In fidelity to the liberating message of the Gospel, she seeks also to contribute to the advancement of the entire community. It is this that inspires the efforts of the Catholic community to cooperate with the Government and with people of good will by working to overcome all kinds of social problems. The Church is also concerned to play her proper part in the work of intellectual and human formation, above all by educating the young in the values of respect, solidarity and concern for the less fortunate. In this way, she strives to serve her Lord by showing charitable concern for the needy and for the good of the whole human family.
You mean he didn’t demand some weeping apology for the Mongol empire’s excesses in Eastern Europe?
Seriously, though, a diplomatic and gracious address with an eye to the well being of a Catholic minority. The RCC often uses the phrase “all people of good will” when reaching out to non-Catholics.
Yes, Tim, it’s a splendid speech for the occasion all right, and brief as it is, sounds some important themes that any Christian can affirm about how we relate to the non-Christian majority of the world’s population. After all, God’s idea from the beginning, from the calling of Abraham, is that His special covenant people, new and old alike, should be a blessing “to all the families of the earth” (Gen. 12:3).
As for the atrocities and unspeakable horrors visited upon the peoples of eastern Europe as well as central Asia by the savage Mongol armies of old, the historical record allows room for blame on more sides than one. As utterly ruthless as Genghis Khan was, it’s notable that his grandmother was actually a Nestorian Christian. And when the legendary Kublai Khan (who ruled from the Pacific to the Ural Mountains from 1260-1292) actually sent Marco Polo (who served in his court) back to Rome in 1266 requesting that the pope send him 100 Christian scholars and engineers and expressed openness to possibly converting himself, the pope (Gregory X) didn’t take it seriously and sent his cordial blessing, but no Christian scholars. With tragic consequences. The Mongol Emperor rightly felt slighted, and a unique golden opportunity was lost. Such are the ironies of history…
David Handy+
A salutary reminder of the lost possibilities of history, Fr Handy.
For those interested in more on the story of Nestorian Christianity in China, including during the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty, and the remarkable story of a Chinese Nestorian priest who traveled to Western Europe in the 13th century, see “[url=http://confessingreader.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/christianity-a-traditional-chinese-religion/]Christianity: a traditional Chinese religion[/url]”.