De Maximum Illud con motivo de la consagración de los seis primeros obispos de China
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35312/67gtf652Palabras clave:
Maximum Illud, Chinese Bishops, Celso Constantini, Vincent LebbeResumen
El artículo reconstruye el proceso que, partiendo de la carta apostólica Maximum illud de Benedicto XV (1919), condujo siete años más tarde a la consagración episcopal de los seis primeros obispos chinos. En el centro del análisis se encuentra la evolución de la reflexión de la Santa Sede sobre la naturaleza de las misiones, cada vez menos influida por la retórica nacionalista y colonialista imperante en la época y orientada progresivamente hacia el establecimiento de Iglesias locales dotadas de su propio clero y jerarquía. En este marco, cobra especial importancia la actuación de monseñor Celso Costantini, primer delegado apostólico en China, a quien correspondió la tarea de poner en práctica las indicaciones romanas mediante la preparación del primer Concilio Plenario chino (1924) y la promoción de estructuras eclesiásticas estables in situ. La consagración episcopal de los seis primeros obispos chinos —dos de los cuales eran vicentinos— se interpreta como un resultado coherente de este camino y como un momento fundacional para la plena inserción de la Iglesia china en la catolicidad universal, en la que la Congregación de la Misión desempeñó un papel protagonista.
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