Cardinal Parolin to present book on Cardinal Costantini & China

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, will present the work 'Cardinal Celso Costantini and China - Constructor of a 'bridge' between the East and West," at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on Thursday, 20 June.

The volume was edited by Msgr. Bruno Fabio Pighin, an Italian historian and Episcopal Delegate in the postulation of the cause of beatification and canonisation of Cardinal Celso Costantini (1876-1958), the first Apostolic Delegate to China, and published in Italian by Marcianum Press.

Alongside Cardinal Parolin, those speaking will include the Secretary of the Dicastery for Evangelization's Section for 'First Evangelization' and new particular Churches, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, and the Secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta.

Bishop Giuseppe Pellegrini of Cardinal Costantini's home Diocese of Concordia-Pordenone and the Pontifical Urban University Rector, Professor Vincenzo Buonomo, will offer initial greetings.

Passion for China 

Archbishop Costantini worked tirelessly despite difficulties to ensure that the Gospel of Christ took root in Chinese soil and was compatible with local society and culture.

Notably, he organized and promoted the Concilium Sinense, the first, and so far, only Synod of the Catholic Church in China, whose centenary was commemorated on 21 May with an international conference promoted by the Urban University, in collaboration with Fides news agency and the Pastoral Commission for China.

Costantini, who was created a Cardinal at the 12 January 1953 Consistory by Pope Pius XII, is also known for having founded the first Chinese religious institute, the Congregation of the Disciples of the Lord, which has now spread throughout different parts of Asia, and for having collaborated in the founding and development of the Fu Jen Catholic University.

In Italy, after his time in Asia, the Cardinal also served as Secretary of the then Propaganda Fide, the Vatican's former Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, and as the Rector of the Pontifical Urban University.