Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - "There is no contradiction between being Christian and authentically Chinese," said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State, this morning at the conference "Matteo Ricci – A heritage of friendship, dialogue and peace" held at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and attended, among others, by the Bishop of Hong Kong, Cardinal Stephen Chow (S.J.).
The event, organized by the General Curia of the Jesuits in collaboration with the University, paid tribute to the figure of the Jesuit missionary who was the first to succeed in bringing the proclamation of the Gospel to China. A missionary whom the Secretary of State described as a "bridge builder" between cultures and a model for the Church today.
In his speech on the figure of Matteo Ricci, the Cardinal recalled how he was portrayed by the last three Popes, including John Paul II, who quoted and praised him several times during his pontificate for "appreciating" the Chinese culture in which he proclaimed the Gospel. For Pope John Paul II, said Parolin, Ricci was "a bridge builder between China and the Church and between China and Europe".
Benedict XVI struck the same note, pointing out in 2010, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of Ricci's death, that "the choices he made were not shaped by an abstract strategy of inculturation of the faith, but by a series of events, encounters and experiences he had, so that what he was able to achieve was also thanks to the encounter with the Chinese".
Even if Pope Francis has never explicitly referred to Matteo Ricci in his speeches, "his ideas are always present in his statements," said Cardinal Parolin, "when he speaks of the inculturation of the Gospel."
In this respect, according to the Vatican Secretary of State, Ricci was and is "a reference figure in the entire process of dialogue with China, who, with an approach that we use today but which was already valid at the time, showed that there is no contradiction between being authentically Chinese, being a good citizen and being Christian. On the contrary, the Gospel animates Chinese culture from within. And so this great teaching of Matteo Ricci continues and we continue to be inspired."
Ricci and his work, the Cardinal said on the sidelines of the event, speaking to journalists, have favored "the path of dialogue that the Holy See began long ago with Beijing", which has been "realized" in recent years with the agreement on the appointment of bishops, renewed for four years last October. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 15/11/2024)
