UCA News
Contribute

Church to beatify early China convert in Shanghai

One of the earliest Christian converts in China, Paolo Xu Guangqi, a disciple of the Jesuit Matteo Ricci is to be beatified in Shanghai, the Vatican has announced.
Church to beatify early China convert in Shanghai
Published: April 19, 2011 11:08 AM GMT
Updated: March 28, 2022 11:51 AM GMT

One of the earliest Christian converts in China, Paolo Xu Guangqi, a disciple of the Jesuit Matteo Ricci is to be beatified in Shanghai, the Vatican has announced. "It's a pleasing light of hope for China today and tomorrow," Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi told reporters Friday, AFP reports. The news that scientist Paolo Xu Guangqi was on the path to beatification brought "hope" and "joy" in what was otherwise a period of tension between the Vatican and China's official state Catholic church, the Holy See said. Guangqi (1562-1633) converted to Christianity under the Ming Dynasty. His story should give Catholics in China confidence in confirming loyalty to the Vatican, Lombardi said. "Chinese people, whether they are Catholics or not, will be better able to understand that there is no contradiction or risk in being both Chinese and catholic," he added. "This layman, a highly cultured imperial official of some rank" was known as "a great and faithful servant of his country and his people," he said. Shanghai's bishop, Aloysus Jin Luxian, who set the beatification process in motion, plays an important reconciliatory role in the Catholic community. Vatican says China's move to beatify Christian sign of hope SOURCE (AFP) PHOTO World Imagine (Wikipedia/CC 3.0)

Help UCA News to be independent
Dear reader,
Lent is the season during which catechumens make their final preparations to be welcomed into the Church.
Each year during Lent, UCA News presents the stories of people who will join the Church in proclaiming that Jesus Christ is their Lord. The stories of how women and men who will be baptized came to believe in Christ are inspirations for all of us as we prepare to celebrate the Church's chief feast.
Help us with your donations to bring such stories of faith that make a difference in the Church and society.
A small contribution of US$5 will support us continue our mission…
William J. Grimm
Publisher
UCA News
Asian Bishops
Latest News
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia
UCA News Catholic Dioceses in Asia