EUROPE/ITALY - Chinese priests and nuns "on mission" in the neighborhoods of Naples

by Giuseppe Li

Naples (Agenzia Fides) – At the close of the Jubilee, the Church of Naples undertook a particularly significant evangelization initiative aimed at the Chinese community in the city.

The initiative, promoted by Father Paolo Kong, chaplain of the Chinese Catholic Community in Naples, took place from December 27, 2025, to January 4, 2026, with the support and invitation of the Archdiocese of Naples, under the guidance and encouragement of Auxiliary Bishop Michele Autuoro.
Twenty priests and nuns, invited by Father Paolo, spent several days visiting areas with a large Chinese presence, particularly the Gianturco area, a place of work and daily life for many families. Organized into five groups, the missionaries adopted a door-to-door approach, visiting each home and participating in each activity, thus establishing direct contact with their Chinese compatriots. An experience of genuine closeness, allowing us to meet people where they live and work.
It was a significant and very important experience for the pastoral care of the Chinese community in Naples. The proclamation of the Gospel was not expressed through large events, but within the ordinariness of daily life: entering homes, stopping at workplaces, sharing a word of hope, and making the name of Jesus resonate, with respect and freedom, among our Chinese compatriots living in the city. During these encounters, a reality marked by intense work schedules and a strong focus on economic security emerged powerfully. Many of the people we met live almost entirely absorbed by their work, with little time or space for nurturing their inner lives. Some have expressed a view of faith as something marginal or even an obstacle, while others define themselves as believers in name only, without a true spiritual experience. And yet, the missionaries recount, precisely beneath this surface a profound need for hope and guidance has emerged. A need often silenced, yet perceptible in dialogue and mutual listening. In this context, even indifference or rejection was not experienced as a failure, but as part of a journey that requires patience, fidelity, and love, in the recognition that the proclamation of the Gospel can only inspire adherence and discipleship born of freedom.

A particularly significant moment occurred on December 31, when the missionaries were received by the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, along with the auxiliary bishops. During the meeting, the group shared the meaning and experiences of their mission days, receiving words of encouragement, support, and closeness from the Pastor of the Neapolitan Church. This was a concrete sign of ecclesial communion and the diocese's attention to the Chinese community and its missionary commitment.
"We have sown seeds," the participants recounted, entrusting the time and the fruits of growth to the Lord. An evangelical image has accompanied the entire experience and encapsulates its most authentic meaning.

In the final evaluation and sharing session with Bishop Michele, a clear perspective for the future also emerged. In light of this experience, the Chinese Catholic Community, in communion with and with the support of the Diocese of Naples, intends to continue its journey of reaching out to and accompanying Chinese compatriots in the region through concrete projects, initiatives, and pastoral outreach programs designed to address the human and spiritual needs that arose during the mission.
Some missionaries testified to rediscovering the truth of the words of the Scripture: “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim the Gospel.” Particular emphasis was placed on the visits to Chinese Catholic families, who expressed gratitude for feeling listened to, blessed, and supported. In more than one case, the final farewell was accompanied by tears of emotion.

The missionary experience of Chinese nuns and priests is part of the broader journey of the Church of Naples toward a pastoral approach attentive to migrant communities and represents a concrete sign of a Church that goes forth, encounters, and walks alongside others, sowing hope in the human and spiritual peripheries of the city. (Agenzia Fides, 11/1/2026)

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