Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – The International Symposium entitled, “The Emperor Kang Xi and the Jesuit Mission in China,” in honor of the 300th anniversary of the death of Fr. Tomas Pereira, SJ (1645-1708), will take place in Lisbon (Portugal), November 10-12. The Symposium is being organized by the Matteo Ricci Institute in Macao, the Classical University of Lisbon, and the Eastern Institute, in cooperation with the Center for Studies in Christianity of the Institute for Studies in World Religions of the Chinese Social Academy, the Center for the Study of Foreign Sinology at the Foreign Languages University in Beijing, the Chinese and Portuguese Provinces of the Jesuit Order, the Historical Institute of the Jesuits in Rome, and the Eastern Foundation in Portugal.
The Symposium will feature various talks from internationally acclaimed experts such as Fr. John W. Witek, SJ, of Georgetown University; Fr. Louis Gendron, SJ of the Jesuit Chinese Province; Fr. Alfredo Dinis, SJ of the Jesuit Portuguese Province; Fr. Zhuo Xin Ping, Director of the Insititute for Studies in World Religions of the Chinese Social Academy; Fr. Zhang Xi Ping, Director of the Center for the Study of Foreign Sinology at the Foreign Languages University in Beijing; Fr. Lin Qian, of the Committee for Historical Research of the Qing Dynasty of the People's Republic of China. The themes include: “Fr. Pereira, his person and mission,” “The mission in China during the dynasty of Kang Qi,” “Fr. Pereira, science and mission,” “Fr. Pereira and Chinese music,” “Fr. Pereira, the Qing Court and the Chinese culture”.... There will also be another Conference dedicated to the memory of this Jesuit priest, in Macao November 27-29.
Portuguese missionary Fr. Tomas Pereira, SJ (1645-1708) is a key figure in the history of the Church in China. He gained the trust of the Emperor Kang Xi, playing an essential role in resolving the issues concerning Chinese rites. As representative and protector of the mission, he entered to form part of Chinese diplomacy and restored the famous church dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of Mary, founded by his brother Jesuit, the great missionary Fr. Matteo Ricci. The Emperor Kang Xi was the greatest Chinese emperor, not only because of the Qing Dynasty, but in terms of the entire imperial history of China. In addition to his great intellectual abilities, he was also very open and tolerant of Western culture and religion. Thanks to him, the Catholic missionaries (especially the Jesuits) were able to spread the faith freely. Unfortunately, due to Western political and religious conflicts, the Emperor changed in his friendly attitude towards the missionaries. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides 6/11/2008)
