# John of Montecorvino in Khanbaliq (1294)

URL: https://christianity-history.com/timeline/1294-john-of-montecorvino-in-khanbaliq
Location: Khanbaliq (Beijing), Yuan China
Themes: Mission

The Franciscan John of Montecorvino reaches Khanbaliq (Beijing), capital of the Yuan dynasty, builds churches and baptises thousands. In 1307 the pope names him the first Catholic archbishop of Khanbaliq. At this point in the timeline (1294), the Bishop of Rome was Pope Celestine V (5 July 1294 – 13 December 1294).

## Why it matters
It was the first Catholic mission in China, flourishing under Mongol patronage.

Pope at the time: [Pope Boniface VIII](https://christianity-history.com/popes/pope-boniface-viii)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — John of Montecorvino](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Montecorvino)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — John of Montecorvino in Khanbaliq](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=John+of+Montecorvino+in+Khanbaliq)
- [Wikipedia — Medieval Church (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Catholic_Church#Middle_Ages)