Long before Marco Polo undertook his first voyage to the mysterious Orient, a Franciscan friar made a very similar journey, an almost epic adventure that took a European to the heart of the Mongol Empire. This journey marked one of the first experiences of diplomacy between Christian Europe and Asia in the Mongol Empire.

In 1245, commissioned by Pope Innocent IV, Brother John set out on a mission to deliver a message to the Great Khan and to stop the continuous Mongol incursions towards Christian Europe, which had devastated numerous territories over the decades. His journey lasted almost two years and took him to explore lands virtually unknown to medieval Europeans and to lands that, until then, were considered almost mythical. He crossed Poland and the Ukraine, the Eurasian steppes, Kazakhstan and finally reached the court of Karakorum, capital of the Mongol Empire under the rule of Güyük Khan.

Pian del Carpine faced extremely difficult conditions, enduring hostile climates, long rides and very dangerous terrain for a European of the time. Despite his efforts, he was unable to convince the Great Khan to stop his incursions and, ironically, when he delivered the Pope's message, Guyuk responded by demanding submission and an oath of allegiance from all Christian rulers, including the Pope, to the Mongol Empire.

Despite the failure of diplomacy, John's travel account, entitled 'Historia Mongalorum', was a valuable source of information about the Mongols in medieval Europe. His account describes in detail their political, military and social organisation, as well as their ways of life, myths and prejudices.

His work is considered one of the first direct European historical accounts of an Asian empire and a fundamental contribution to cultural and geographical knowledge of the 13th century. John was not only a traveller, but also a pioneer of cultural dialogue, paving the way for future contacts and diplomatic relations between East and West, a true ambassador of his time.