Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – As part of celebrations for the 400th anniversary of the death of the Jesuit missionary Fr. Matteo Ricci (Macerata (Italy) 1552-Beijing 1610), there will be two International Conferences devoted to his figure and his missionary work. The first initiative is a study day organized by the Pontifical Gregorian University, which takes place today, March 2, in Rome and whose theme is an expression taken from Ricci himself: "I accommodated to them in all things" and subtitled "Fr. Matteo Ricci Formed by the Chinese." Among the topics to be discussed are: The initial experience of Matteo Ricci in Zhaoqing; Importance of Matteo Ricci in the current evangelization of China; Fr. Matteo Ricci shaped by the Chinese.
The second conference, entitled "Science, reason, faith. The genius of Father Matteo Ricci, "will be held in Macerata, in the St. Paul Auditorium, March 4-6. It is promoted by the Diocese of Macerata, Tolentino, Recanati, Cingoli, Treia, the General Curia of the Society of Jesus, and the Theological Institute Marchigiano. The program includes the opening of the Conference with greetings, etc. and a talk on "Reason, Faith and Culture" (by Cardinal Camillo Ruini) and "Astronomy, science and faith" (Prof. Marco Bersanelli). The first session will deepen in "the historical context of the Church and the formation of Fr. Matteo Ricci," and the second session of the conference will present the "tools and cultural itineraries in dialogue with the Chinese." At the end, there will be a concert in honor of Fr. Matteo Ricci at the Cathedral of San Giuliano in Macerata. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 02/03/2010)
