URGA, MISSION. — It comprises all of Outer Mongolia, a region never evangelized because of the extremely difficult transport conditions across the Gobi Desert and the obstacles imposed by the Russian government of the tsars. After their fall, greater religious freedom was hoped for.
Moreover, modern means of communication facilitated contact with that land. Therefore, on 14 March 1922, the “sui iuris” Mission of Outer Mongolia was established, with territory detached from the apostolic vicariate of Central Mongolia (diocese of Sivantze) and entrusted to the Scheut Fathers. By decree of 3 December 1924, it received the designation “Mission of U.,” the country’s capital. Since, however, the region had fallen under the control of Soviet Russia, the missionaries were never able to enter II. A report from 1921 states that the number of Catholics reached approximately one hundred, among merchants and emigrants.