Memorandum of Antoine Cotta, C.M. (Apostolic Missionary) concerning the mission situation in China addressed to Cardinal SERAFINI, Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, 6 February 1917

Antoine Cotta entered the Congregation of the Mission in 1891. His memorandum, addressed to Cardinal Serafini in 1917, advocates for the inclusion of Chinese clergy in the episcopate to address the dependency of the Church in China on European missionaries. This memorandum was designed to promote the access of Chinese clergy to the episcopacy, bolstered by reasons drawn from popes, bishops, and others. He believed that the practice at his time opposed such access. He critiques the “spiritual colonialism” within Chinese missions, highlighting a disconnect between papal directives and the practices of foreign-led missions, which often treat Chinese clergy as auxiliaries rather than leaders. Cotta argues that Chinese Christians must develop a self-sufficient Church to thrive, emphasizing that reliance on European resources and leadership hinders the growth and authenticity of Chinese Catholicism. He references various papal documents supporting the formation of an independent native clergy, and urges the Church to empower Chinese priests to take on full ecclesiastical roles. This memorandum is significant for its role in inspiring Pope Pius XI’s decision to ordain the first Chinese bishops in 1926, marking a turning point for the Catholic Church in China.