Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar

The Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar is a Catholic ecclesiastical jurisdiction centered in Mongolia's capital city. It oversees several parishes distributed across the country and maintains a cathedral that serves as the spiritual center for the faithful in the region.

The jurisdiction began in 1922 as a Catholic mission in Mongolia and was renamed the Mission of Urga in 1924. It was elevated to its current apostolic prefecture status in 2002.

The cathedral building incorporates traditional Mongolian architectural elements, with a structure resembling the shape of a traditional nomadic dwelling.

Visitors can attend the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in central Ulaanbaatar, where the community gathers regularly. This location provides an accessible setting to experience the Catholic presence within a predominantly non-Christian country.

A native-born priest was ordained in 2016, becoming the first person of Mongolian origin to reach the priesthood in this jurisdiction. This moment marked a significant development for the local Catholic community.

Shares border with: Apostolic Prefecture of Xinjiang, Roman Catholic Diocese of Transfiguration at Novosibirsk, Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Joseph at Irkutsk, Apostolic Prefecture of Qiqihar, Roman Catholic Diocese of Xiwanzi, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Suiyuan, Roman Catholic Diocese of Ningxia, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lanzhou

Website: http://catholicchurch-mongolia.mn

GPS coordinates: 47.91194,106.97583

Latest update: December 11, 2025 18:08