CHINA, MATTEO RICCI AND THE RENAISSANCE SPIRIT

Giancarlo Pani
Quaderno 4038 , Anno 2018 , Volume III

The Collegio Romano was founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola in 1551 for the formation of both regular and diocesan clergy.

It soon became one of the best schools in Rome. Prominent among its students is Matteo Ricci, who studied there from 1572 to 1577 and found himself living in one of the happiest moments of the institution.

He was the first missionary who managed to penetrate the «forbidden city», in Beijing, and even gained the congeniality of chinese Emperor Wan-li.

This was due to his exceptional qualities: the culture, an uncommon intelligence, the gifts of diplomacy; but we must not forget his literary, philosophical and theological, scientific and musical training which he had received at the Collegio Romano.

laciviltacattolica.it/articolo/la…ascimentale/