It was 778 years ago, in 1245, that an emissary of a pope made his way to a Mongol emperor, seeking two results: The conversion of the Mongols to Christianity, and a promise that the Mongols would not menace Christian kingdoms of Europe.
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“May the dark clouds of war be dispelled, swept away by the firm desire for a universal fraternity wherein tensions are resolved through encounter and dialogue, and the fundamental rights of all people are guaranteed!” the pope said.