Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tai Pei (Agenzia Fides) - "This is an excellent historical work” the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI said referring to the “Dictionnaire Ricci de caractères chinois” presented to him by Fr. Vermander SJ. Editor of RenLai magazine on 24 October. According to Tai Pei bulletin Christian Life Weekly Fr.Vermander accompanied by Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, told the Pope that during an exhibition on the History of Dictionaries at Shang Hai Library, two large statues were on show of Matteo Ricci and Paolo Xu, famous Catholic mandarin who worked with Fr Ricci by whom he was baptised. Fr. Vermander said he is working in a dictionary on line, and he gave the Holy See a collection of the RenLai monthly. The priest had a meeting with the Pontifical Council for Culture.
“Flute of Humanity” or Renlai magazine in Chinese was launched for Lunar New Year in 2004 by the Matteo Ricci Institute of Studies through the Ricci Cultural Enterprise publishers, run by the Jesuits. The editor is Fr. Benoit Vermander SJ. The magazine offers young people an opportunity to express their ideas and make their voices heard. The magazine focuses on a different theme every month, with an editorial, comments, essays, articles, literature and cinema with the help of collaborators all over the world, especially in Taiwan, mainland China and overseas Chinese communities. Fr. Benoit Vermander, is a scholar and an excellent painter and poet. He has been on mission in various parts of China and his works are the fruit of his experience and meeting with ordinary people. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2007 - righe 25, parole 336)
