Mongolia Receives Copies of 38 XIII–XIV Century Vatican Documents on Mongolian History

ULAANBAATAR / VATICAN

Mongolia has received copies of 38 historical documents documenting relations between the Mongol Empire, the Great Khans, the Ilkhanate and the Roman popes during the XIII–XIV centuries. D. Gerelmaa, Mongolia’s non-resident ambassador to the Holy See, received the copies at a meeting held in Vatican City on October 26, 2026.

According to an official statement issued by Mongolia’s Embassy in Geneva on October 27, Ambassador Gerelmaa held separate meetings with Paul Vian, deputy head of the Vatican Apostolic Archive, and Mauro Mantovani, prefect of the Apostolic Library.

Documents Chronicling Relations Between the Mongol Empire and the Roman Popes

The 38 documents include a letter sent by Great Khan Guyuk to Pope Innocent IV, letters sent by Pope Innocent IV to the Great Khan in 1245, and a letter sent by Pope Nicholas III to Kublai Khan in 1278.

They also include correspondence with Ilkhanate rulers Abaqa and Arghun and members of their families; letters addressed to Baiju and sent by him; and official instructions and permissions concerning the dispatch of religious envoys to Mongolian territory.

These sources are significant because they enable researchers to study the Mongol state’s foreign relations, diplomatic policy, the authority of its rulers, and religious and cultural exchanges through documents written at the time, rather than solely through later historical interpretations.

Guyuk Khan’s letter to Pope Innocent IV, for example, is an important source on relations between the Mongol Empire and the religious and political centres of Western Europe. In a scholarly article published in 2023, researcher Roman Hautala explained that the letter was translated from Mongolian into Latin on November 11, 1246, with the involvement of Giovanni of Plano Carpini. A Persian version of the letter has been preserved in the Vatican Apostolic Archive.

Opportunities to Study Mongolia’s Linguistic and Cultural Heritage

The sides also discussed cooperation on the study of other rare sources related to Mongolia’s language, script, history and cultural heritage held in the Vatican Apostolic Library.

These materials include Chinese–Mongolian and Tibetan–Mongolian xylographic dictionaries, Mongolian-script manuscripts, religious teachings, translated sermons, and rare books published in Mongolian and Kalmyk.

They exchanged views on exploring ways to catalogue and document the materials in greater detail, digitise them, obtain copies, translate and interpret the original texts, publish them as scholarly works and source collections, and create a digital database.

The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation between scholars, archive specialists and library professionals, and to implement joint research, exhibitions and academic projects.

Putting the 2025 Memorandum into Practice

The handover of the document copies is part of cooperation launched during President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh’s state visit to the Holy See on December 4, 2025.

During that visit, Mongolia’s Chinggis Khaan National Museum and the Vatican Apostolic Library signed a memorandum of understanding. The document covers joint research on sources related to the history of the Mongol Empire, the exchange of knowledge and expertise on manuscripts, books and documentary heritage, exchanges of researchers and specialists, and the organisation of joint academic events.

Mongolia has previously cooperated with the Vatican Archive in this field. In 2019, for instance, Mongolia received copies of eight XIII-century letters exchanged between the popes and rulers of the Mongol Empire and the Ilkhanate from what was then known as the Vatican Secret Archive. The 38 document copies received this time therefore continue that work and represent a new step towards improving access to sources on Mongolian history.

The Importance of Studying Mongolian History Through International Sources

The Vatican Apostolic Archive preserves documents related to the activities of the Roman popes and the administration of the Holy See. Its historical collections span 12 centuries, from the VIII to the XX century. According to its official profile, the archive holds more than 600 archival fonds and documents stored on shelves extending over 85 kilometres. Open to researchers since 1881, it is one of the world’s important centres for historical research.

Identifying documents related to Mongolian history in foreign archives and libraries such as those of the Vatican, obtaining copies, translating them and bringing them into academic circulation can enrich the country’s national historical sources. In particular, it will expand opportunities to compare and study international sources on the period when the Mongol Empire established diplomatic relations across vast areas of Eurasia.

The 38 document copies received this time are more than reproductions of historical artefacts. They are valuable research materials for further detailed study of the Mongol Empire’s international relations, state policy, and religious and cultural history.