An Edinburgh-based priest has celebrated Holy Mass at Everest base camp as part of a pilgrimage for peace.

Fr Ninian Doohan, of St Patrick's Church in The Cowgate, had an eight day trek to reach the iconic location, which is 17,598ft above sea level (for comparison, Ben Nevis is 4,413 ft).

He said: "This is day eight of trekking by foot, and my cassock has seen better days having been worn continuously from Edinburgh.

"(It's) certainly the first Holy Mass offered here in the nascent Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. Heaven has once again come down to Earth at its highest point.

"The Mass was the Missa Pro Pace, offered for the intention of Peace in the World.

"With limited information of the outside world in this Himalayan region we were still able to read a little of Pope Leo XIV’s first Regina Coeli address as he appealed to the leaders of the world: Never again war!"

Fr Ninian arrived in Nepal on 2 May to assist a community project at St Ignatius' Church in the Nepalese capital.

The project is part of a Jesuit Mission and a broader network of activities supporting mobile clinics, special schools, and the general material welfare of the people.

The pilgrimage was inspired following the baptism of Gele Bishokarma by Fr Ninian at St Patrick’s Church in 2023.

He said: "I promised him that I’d meet him on his own native soil, and I’d like to help the Church there in any way I can with a small mission, at least to just see our Catholic Faith lived out in the highest point on Earth."

Gele, who runs a trekking company, accompanied Fr Ninian on the journey. Fr Ninian is now back in Kathmandu after a four day trek back down the mountains and a helicopter journey back to the Nepalese capital.

He said: "Please pray that the Holy Spirit guides further the initiative to have a Catholic church in the region for the use of both locals and visitors alike.

"We left a strategically placed Miraculous Medal (of the Immaculate Conception) at Namche, the Sherper Capital, hoping Maternal help will be forthcoming."

Follow Fr Ninian's journey on Facebook and Instagram. To donate to the community project at St Ignatius' Church in Nepal click here.