The Gospel and the Church in China, Giovanni of Montecorvino, OFM, papal legate and first apostle of China

Abstract

In China, religious life has always played an important role. Confucianism, Daoism and Buddhism were the most widespread religions.

Confirmed contacts between Christianity and China date back to the 7th century, when Nestorians from Persia, traversing the merchant routes, began apostolic activities. In an edict by Emperor Tang II in 635, permission was granted to the Nestorians to preach Christian doctrine and spread the Scriptures. The first period of Christian evangelistic activity began to decline from 845, with the publication of Emperor Wu Zong's decree, which designated Buddhism, Islam and Christianity as "foreign religions."

During the period of the so-called pax mongola, which lasted from 1245 to about 1345, a revival of trade contacts between Europe and China is recorded. The merchants were quite quickly joined by the first Franciscan missionaries. In 1245, Pope Innocent IV sent with two
documents to one of the earliest followers of St. Francis, Fr. Giovanni da Pian Carpine, to the great Tartar Han Güyük, then also ruling in Chinese territory, in order to establish diplomatic contacts. Although this mission did not bear the expected fruit, the insightful notes taken from this expedition have become very valuable to the Holy See.

Without a doubt, Fr. Giovanni of Montecorvino. Between 1279 and 1283, Fr. Giovanni of Montecorvino traveled to Armenia. However, as early as 1289, he came to Pope Nicholas IV as an envoy of King Aitone II of Armenia. Later that year, already with the rank of apostolic nuncio, he set out again for the East. This time his task was to transmit 27 papal letters to a number of rulers of Eastern countries, including China, in order to establish diplomatic relations, carry out missionary activities and create a united front to defend against the flood of Islam.

It is believed that fr. Giovanni arrived in Khambaliq (today's Beijing) in 1294, where he was received with due honor by Emperor Khan Quibilai. He was also given the privilege of staying and moving freely in the ruler's court as well as throughout the empire. By order of Pope Clement V, the episcopal consecration of Fr. Giovanni was granted in 1310. This consecration took place in the presence of the emperor. Thus, Giovanni of Montevorvino was given the title of the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Khambaliq and Patriarch of the entire Tartar Empire. In his service to the faithful and in his management of the Archdiocese, Archbishop Giovanni displayed extraordinary piety, zeal, simplicity of teaching, intuition and prudence in his decisions.

An unforgettable and precious fruit of such an example of apostleship was the missionary vocation of Blessed Gabriele M. Allegra, who, setting himself as a model precisely the first Archbishop of Beijing, decided to dedicate his life to apostolic work for the Church in China.

Since 1949, when the People's Republic of China was proclaimed, communism has become a great tragedy for the Chinese people and a drama for the Christians there.

The new and very difficult era in the Vatican's relations with the Chinese Communist government that began with the pontificate of Pius XII lasted for the next decades, under the papacies of John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

Under the pontificate of Pope Francis, provisional agreements between the People's Republic of China and the Holy See were signed on September 22, 2018.

Pope Francis has repeatedly expressed his desire to overcome obstacles to a robust and effective dialogue. This desire has strong roots in the actions of his predecessors; his commitment is an outgrowth of the assumptions set forth by previous pontificates.