Cardinal Giorgio Marengo opened Pastoral Week 2026 with a profound invitation for the Catholic Church in Mongolia to deepen its life of prayer, discernment, and missionary commitment.

In his opening speech, His Eminence Cardinal Marengo emphasized that true ecclesial discernment must always begin with the Word of God, through prayerful listening to the Lord. Reflecting on Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, he reminded participants that the Church is not simply a human organization or gathering, but a community intentionally built by God, with Christ as the cornerstone.

“If during this pastoral week we manage to focus even on this one truth, we will already have achieved our goal: Christ at the center,” Cardinal Marengo said.

The Cardinal also recalled with gratitude the history of the Catholic Church in Mongolia, especially the arrival of the first missionaries in 1992, the witness of the first bishop Mons. Wenceslao Padilla, and all those who dedicated their lives to the Gospel mission in the country.

As the Church in Mongolia approaches the 35th anniversary of the arrival of the first missionaries, Pastoral Week 2026 is being lived as a time of grace to rediscover the Church’s identity, reflect on present realities, and discern future paths of mission.

Cardinal Marengo further highlighted the importance of fraternity, humility, and dialogue — both within the Church and with society, public authorities, and other religious communities. He also noted the continuing closeness of the Holy Father to the Church in Mongolia, recalling the historic Apostolic Visit of Pope Francis in 2023.

The week gathers clergy, religious, and lay collaborators for days of prayer, reflection, sharing, and communal discernment, asking the Holy Spirit to guide the small but growing Church in Mongolia on its missionary journey.