Conference on “The Tale of a Friendship: Matteo Ricci, Paul Xu Guangqi, and the Birth of Chinese Christianity” Held in Ulaanbaatar

At the initiative of Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, the conference “The Tale of a Friendship: Matteo Ricci, Paul Xu Guangqi, and the Birth of Chinese Christianity” was successfully held on February 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Anton Mostaert Center for Mongolian Studies. The event aimed to promote intercultural understanding, dialogue, and the role of missionaries in history.

 

Father Gianni Criveller, a member of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME), is a professor at the PIME International Missionary School of Theology in Milan, Italy. Having taught in Greater China for 27 years, he is also a lecturer in mission theology and the history of Christianity in China at the Holy Spirit Seminary College of Philosophy and Theology in Hong Kong.

 

In his speech, Father Criveller emphasized the significance of friendship in missionary work, explaining that the bond between Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi marked a pivotal moment in the history of Christianity in China.

 

Key Takeaways from the Speech:

• Matteo Ricci (1552-1610) was an Italian Jesuit priest, scientist, and astronomer who played a crucial role in introducing Western scientific knowledge and Christian teachings to China during the Ming Dynasty.

• For Ricci, science and faith were not opposed; rather, the study of science was a pathway to knowing and understanding God.

• Inculturation is the process by which those who receive the Gospel make it meaningful within their cultural context.

• Ricci once said, “No matter how brilliant a person may be, he cannot know God unless someone tells him. Because it is news. Therefore, those who are sent to preach the Gospel must do exactly that—preach.”

• Matteo Ricci’s Legacy in China: His contributions extended beyond theology to include advancements in mathematics, astronomy, calendar reform, agriculture, music, and art. The Beijing Museum recognizes Ricci and Marco Polo among the 100 most influential figures in Chinese history.

• Among Ricci’s notable writings, The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven (1603) attracted the attention of Korean intellectuals studying in China. Some of these scholars later returned to Korea and became early evangelists of Christianity.

 

At the close of the conference, Cardinal Giorgio Marengo addressed the priests, nuns, and laypeople serving in Mongolia. He emphasized that love for the Mongolian people must always come first and encouraged everyone to remain humble in their knowledge, always striving to understand the people more deeply.

 

Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Cardinal Giorgio Marengo for initiating this conference, Father Gianni Criveller for his insightful contributions, and the Anton Mostaert Center for hosting this important event.