Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Beijing (Fides Service) - The 16th century Italian Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci is recognised by historians, theologians, scholars as a pioneer in cultural and religious exchange between the West and the Far East. The large site where Matteo Ricci is buried has become a place of meeting for foreign religious and diplomatic visitors as well as the people of Beijing who hold in high esteem the man who built the first bridges between the worlds of East and West. This and other reasons were mentioned in a petition presented by a large group of Chinese Catholics who wish for a Matteo Ricci Museum to be built on the site where he is buried. The large park includes several buildings besides the burial place of Ricci and a small cemetery with the graves of other Jesuit missionaries who died in China.
Matteo Ricci was born on 6 October 1552 in Macerata, in Italy of a noble family. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1571. He was sent on mission to India in 1577 and was ordained a priest on 25 July1580. He arrived in Macao in 1582 and in 1601 at the request of his superiors he went to Beijing bearing gifts for the Emperor of China. He died in Beijing nine years later on 11 May 1610 having become a great friend of the Emperor who paid for a solemn funeral and a worthy burial place for this great foreigner (the first to receive such honour). In the years he was in China thanks to good relations with the emperor Ricci built several churches and convents and led many to embrace Christianity.
He also translated many books on religion, science and philosophy from Latin to Chinese and Chinese to Latin. This pioneer of inculturation acquired a rare familiarity with Chinese mentality and a great love the people and culture of China.
(Agenzia Fides 21/11/2005 Righe: 26 Parole: 306)
