The conference organized by AsiaNews, at the Capitoline Museums in Rome reaffirms the message of the Jesuit missionary. A fruitful encounter between East and West can only happen in a friendship that welcomes both, material and spiritual elements, creating a truly "harmonious society" within and outside the country of China. Freedom of religion and unity of the Church in China is the first urgent step.

Rome (AsiaNews) – The scientific, cultural, religious dialogue, that was started 400 years ago by Matteo Ricci is still very present in China today marked by a huge economic development, but one which also creates abysmal poverty, conflict and a spiritual vacuum that can only be bridged by a proposal that can combine science and spirit, economy and religious freedom.  The Chinese leadership’s own program to build a "harmonious society, a harmonious world" also risks failure

These were the conclusions reached at the international conference on "The China of Today and Matteo Ricci," held yesterday in the sumptuous "Pietro da Cortona" hall at the Capitoline Museums in Rome, nestled between medieval and Renaissance paintings and sculptures from Ancient Greece and Imperial Roman.

Organized by AsiaNews, sponsored by the City Council and with the support of the Monte dei Paschi di Siena Foundation, the encounter became an ideal overview of the Ricci Year, which ends on 11 May 2010, 400 years after the death of the great Jesuit missionary . The conference brought together Vatican personalities and witnesses of the dialogue between intellectuals and Christians in contemporary China: Mgr. Robert Sarah, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Fr. Savio Hon Tai-fai, SDB from Hong Kong, a member of  the International Theological Commission, Prof. Joseph Jing, director of the China-Europe Cultural Centre, Fr. Bernardo Cervellera Editor of AsiaNews.

Prof. Zhuo Xinping, director of the Institute of World Religions of the Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, although invited, at the last moment was unable to attend due to unforeseen work commitments at the National People's Congress. On his behalf and on his own behalf, the vicar general of the diocese of Beijing, Fr. Peter Zhao Jianmin, sent a greeting to the conference and a message, written from the very place where Matteo Ricci lived, which has since been transformed into the Cathedral of the Immaculate in Xuanwumen. In message, Fr. Ricci is described as "the Western Confucius”, his testimony like water which from west to east irrigated China and whose spirit remains forever.

After a greeting by. Federico Rocca, on behalf of the mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno, Mgr. Sarah spoke of the many new things brought by Ricci to Ming’s China: physics, astronomy, geography, technology, phonics, geometry .. But above all he revealed that this communication took place thanks to his Christian identity and his love for China. He was an innovator in the style of Catholic mission, avoiding all military and political connections, in a style marked by apostolic friendship. In China today, he concluded, there is need to "harmonize material achievements with those of the spirit, economic benefits and respect for man, national and international commitments are in need of resources open to both reason and spirit, lived in a friendship between East and West. " He appealed for greater dialogue between China and the Catholic Church: "It is to this work and to building relationships 'of understanding, friendship and solidarity between peoples' that the Church wishes to help, in mutual respect and in freedom, to continue the work of Matteo Ricci and his successors, for the love of Christ and of China. "

Fr. Savio Hon offered an analysis of Matteo Ricci’s most famous book on China, De Amicitia, demonstrating its continuing relevance for contemporary China, a nation still striving to achieve an image of "harmony" both inside and outside its borders, while " Chinese-styled socialism " reveals itself to be increasingly deceptive and concerns grow about the" yellow peril ".  Inspired by Ricci’s teaching, but with an eye to current needs - Fr. Hon said that in order for dialogue to continue between East and West, it must be based on "universal brotherhood", the "transcendence of God," as a source of friendship, on human wisdom open to the religious dimension.

Prof. Joseph Jing analyzed in more detail the problems of China in the era of globalization, the crisis of public and personal morality, the myth prosperity that which fosters nihilism, the government's attempts to revive Confucianism in the country and the world also as a prop to political power. In Chinese society there is a spiritual void that must be filled and in which the Chinese Catholic Church also has a role to play. Jing described the difficulties of Catholicism in China, a Catholicism that has only recently emerged from violent persecution, that is still under control, and still without full reconciliation between the official and underground church. In order to fulfil its commitment to society and culture, Jing says that the rift in ecclesial unity must be healed. The scholar has recently launched a cultural centre between China and Europe to foster dialogue between Chinese intellectuals, Catholic and non.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Fr.Bernardo Cervellera noted how the China of today, while open to all nations in commercial terms, remains closed to a relationship of friendship and truth with the rest of the world, strengthening its control over the Internet, hampering the efforts of activists and religious, imprisoning people involved in dialogue between East and West. At the same time, neo-confucian materialism, which is both Marxist and consumerist, is itself creating, in addition to spiritual emptiness, a spasmodic religious quest.  This is also the case within the Communist Party, which still in search of balance and harmony.  Unfortunately, by and large the West does not understand this search, because it too, is buried beneath positions dictated by materialism, thus contributing in no small way to a to a growing crisis that may lead to a meltdown in China. The director of AsiaNews concluded by inviting everyone to work for religious freedom in China, a guarantee of a dialogue that is free and rich in cultural and spiritual values.

 

 

* All conference interventions will be available in the May and June 2010 editions of the AsiaNews monthly magazine (In Italian), available on request, with the contribution of  a small donation.

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