On World Mission day in 1975, Giuseppe Freinademetz was beatified by Pope Paul XV; he described
him as a model role and a patron for the whole Christian community; he also asked people to pray
for and to him. The Pope underlined the fact that Giuseppe Freinademetz was a pioneer in
introducing China to the world and for the Church's mission in China. One cannot talk of
Giuseppe Freinademetz without talking of the destiny of Christianity in China.
Giuseppe Freinademetz took off for China back in April 1879, just weeks after his 27th
Birthday. His stayed in China for 29 years. He died in 1908.
He devoted himself entirely to the Chinese people and he never came back home again.
The life and mission of Giuseppe Freinademetz is bound to the "Golden Age" of European
colonialism. China had just been forced by British troops to open its gates to the West,
after having lost the "Opium war" (1840-1842). The emperor had to sign a humiliating treaty
that allowed European merchants to sell opium in China and guaranteed missionaries to spread
their faith in that remote land.
While Portugal kept its colony of Macao; France kept Shangai and other havens under its
control. Soon Germany joined this exclusive "club" In this political context that was ambiguous
from religious point of view and which was very negative for the Church's credibility the fourth
attempt to enroot Christianity in China was made.
The first attempt was made during the 7th the 8th Century just a coupe of years earlier and
during the evangelisation of Germany made by Bonifacius. This was called the Nestorian mission
that lasted 200 hundred years more or less. The second attempt was made by Franciscans and
Dominicans in the 13th Century but after 150 years this attempt failed.
The Third missionary Chapter in China was opened in the 16th Century by the arrival of
Portuguese and Spanish ships. The leading role was overtaken by Matteo Ricci and Adam Shall,
but once again the Christians were persecuted and up to the 19th Century. The Christian Church
did not try to stop this.
At the time Giuseppe Freinademetz went to China his mission was guided by a colonialist
perspective. There was no clear division between European culture and the mission to spread
Christian faith. Missionaries had to teach to supposed ignorants to enlighten them and free
them from the devil's power. Their ultimate aim was to preach the gospel and baptize the people
in order to save their souls. The missionaries thought they would in some sort civilize people
that did not match with modern times.
We can not say that Giuseppe Freinademetz played a role in what we today call "enculturation".
At these time nobody thought faith and colonialism should be separated; and nobody cared about
traditions and beliefs of locals. This was made only later when colonialist age was at its dusk
and with the II Vatican Council.
Giuseppe Freinademetz got through a deep personal change and soon started to be oriented
towards the concept of enculturation. He became a true Chinese. Giuseppe Freinademetz was an
open and generous person, open to people.
In the beginning he was confronted, with many problems regarding his settlement in China and
adapting to a new cultural environment. In his letters of the first period he often talks of
Chinese people in a very negative way.
He thinks pagodas are devil's buildings and their religious practices, superstitions that have
to be substituted by Christian faith.
He says Europeans, thinks Chinese are not at all attractive
and if they had not come to China in order to spread their faith, they would have gone back
soon after they had got there. Chinese people are different from Europeans they're very proud
and they feel part of a bigger nation. They do not kneel in front of the foreigner; they disdain
them. They call Europeans "long nose" and "devils". The adults laugh at Europeans in public,
the children scream at them. It seems as if they loved to bark at them. An old missionary once
told that most Chinese people hate missionaries and do not tolerate them at all.
