What factors determined the activity of the Pope in Russia in the mid-40s of the 13th century?

Everything is very simple. Russia in the 13th century was under the blow of the Mongol-Tatar invasion. Her lands were devastated and devastated. Russia was greatly weakened. For this reason, the Pope decided that this was the best time for the spread of Catholicism to the Russian lands. Thus, the knights made several trips to northeastern Russia. But they were dropped. In 1240, the first major battle took place on the Neva River, and then two years later there was a battle on Ladoga, where the Livonian knights were defeated.