The Macau Ricci Institute and the Centre for Catholic Studies at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) are co-organizing an international symposium themed, “The Doors that Propaganda Fide has opened since 1622.” The event is virtual and will take place August 24-26, 2022.
Propaganda Fide was established on January 6, 1622 by Pope Gregory XV, and the year 2022 is the commemoration of its 400th anniversary. Its founding established the ways for the Holy See to directly govern the dioceses in the Far East. Prior to its founding, monarchies, such as Spain and Portugal ran the missions of the Church under their jurisdiction. The significance of its work extends over the fields of evangelization, communication, science, and cultural exchange.
In 1967, Propaganda Fide was renamed the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
In 2022, Pope Francis introduced the reform of the Roman Curia which has at its heart the conversion of the Church to being missionary. The newly restructured Dicastery for Evangelization will embrace the mission ad gentes (to nations), as well as the new evangelization of peoples who have already encountered the Gospel.
The symposium will study the effects of this pivotal establishment in Church and world history, as well as lessons to sustain the Church’s missionary journey.