Jan Paweł II w dialogu z religiami Chin
John Paul II in a Dialogue with the Religions of China

Summary/Abstract: The article presents Pope John Paul II’s attitude towards the traditional Chinese religions. In the first part, the present author indicates the specific characteristics of China’s three main religions: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism. The features of these three include, among others: syncretism, emphasising the teaching of morality (orthopraxis), and the strong and widespread cult of ancestors. In the article’s following part, the author presents the history of Christianity in China, focusing in particular on the activities of Matteo Ricci (1552-1610), a Jesuit missionary who first took up a dialogue with other religions and Chinese culture. He is a pioneer of inculturation of the Gospel. Then, the author traces the development of the Holy See’s interest in the situation of the Church in China. John Paul II looked with concern at the situation of Chinese Catholics, which he expressed during the ad limina apostolorum meetings with bishops from Taiwan, during the synod devoted to Asia (1998) and in numerous speeches. On these occasions, the Pope expressed his respect and admiration for Chinese civilisation. Twice (in 1982 and 2001), he also spoke in the context of scientific congresses in Rome on the occasion of the Ricci’s mission anniversary, whom John Paul II considered an intermediary between the world of the West and the Chinese civilisation. In the dialogue with the religions of China the Pope appreciated the Chinese religions’ followers for their moral virtues for love, the search for wisdom as well as respect for the elders and ancestors.

• Details
• Contents