MISSIO AD GENTES IN THE CHINESE CONTEXT: FROM MAXIMUM ILLUD TO THE PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT

Pope Benedict XV, who is often known as the "missionary pope" or the “unknown Pope,” developed a missiological approach which was especially significant for the Far East, especially China. His focus on missionary work or missio ad gentes is a reflection on the very nature of the Church itself. In his apostolic letter Maximum illud he describes it according to three principles. The first is on the obligations of the laity to act as 'missionary disciples.' The second stresses the non-political nature of mission. An the third describes the local nature of mission. While the political, economic and missiological situation has changed since these documents, these three principles still remain relevant. The obligations of missio ad gentes, both in relation to faith within the Church (ad intra) and in relation to local communities (ad extra) remains important for the whole Catholic Church, and especially for the Chinese Catholic Church. This essay will explore the relevance of mission ad intra and ad extra for the Catholic Church in China.