"God loves littleness, and through it, he loves to accomplish great things," Pope Francis said during an address in Mongolia at Ulaanbaatar's Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on September 2.

Doubling down, he urged the Church not to be concerned with "small numbers, limited success, or apparent irrelevance."

In a trip highlighting the Catholic Church's universal reach, Francis sought to bring hope and inspiration to the tiny Catholic community.

The community comprises only 1,450 members but punches well above its weight, actively operating six educational centres and 48 charities across the nation.

Pope Francis celebrated these efforts as the "calling card" of the community's Christian commitment, noting a promising rise in the faith with 35 baptisms in the past year.

As church leaders juggle an array of charitable initiatives, the pope urged them to remain grounded."

Go back often to that 'original gaze' [of Jesus] from which everything began," he advised, cautioning against the risk of burnout and the sense of merely delivering "a roster of duties."

"Our Mongolian brothers and sisters, who have a keen sense of the sacred, look for your witness and can recognise if it is genuine," the pope noted.

The pope's visit is expected to energise the Catholic community in Mongolia and offer a beacon of spiritual light for Catholics living under restrictive regimes in neighbouring countries, particularly in China.

Despite substantial risks, including potential governmental repercussions, about 100 Chinese Catholics made the journey. An anonymous spokesman commented that the risks were well worth it, underlining the profound meaning the pope holds for Catholics worldwide.

The pontiff's visit is a testament to the Church's global outreach and a powerful reminder that faith knows no borders, even as it faces a world often hostile to expressions of religious freedom.

Sources

• CNA
• Crux

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The court also ordered the release of Sr Mary's passport and all documents of the Prem Nivasa (House of Love) convent seized for the purposes of an investigation into alleged irregularities at the home for pregnant mothers.

Allegations surround suspicions that the sisters harboured girls who had become pregnant aged under 16 - the age of consent - and also that money may have corruptly changed hands for the adoption of babies.

The sisters strenuously denied the allegations, however the head of the convent, Sr Mary Eliza was imprisoned pending the outcome of and investigation.

The allegations came after a raid on Prem Nivasa last month organised by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), also involving the Criminal Investigation Department.

Prior to the court's ruling, Father Cyril Gamini, the parish priest of the nearby St Joseph's Church described the allegations as "rubbish".

Hiranthi Wijemanne, a former chairperson of the NCPA, however said that the raid on the convent took place because of a tip-off from somebody who has not been publicly named.

Throughout the ordeal the sisters continue to spend much time in prayer, and said they want to continue their ministry to the poor.

Sr Mary Eliza is the first sister of Missionaries of Charity to ever be imprisoned. She enjoyed the support of the head of the order who came to Sri Lankaha during the distress.

Sources

• BBC
• Sri Lankan Guardian
• Image: Sri Lankan Guardian