1610 November 23rd: Longobardi wrote to Rome
Informed Rome of Father Ricci’s passing
On 23rd November 1610, Father Nicolas Longobardi (1559–1654) wrote to Father Claudio Acquaviva (1543–1615), Superior General of the Society of Jesus in the Vatican, informing them that Father Matteo Ricci (利玛窦, 1552–1610) had passed away due to illness.
More Jews than Christians in China
Father Longobardi reported that “Those Christians of the Cross, owing to the love with which they worship the same God as the Jews, go to offer their prayers in the synagogue; and the Jews allow them (to do this) because of this (common) reverence.”
Furthermore, the Jews in China had surpassed the Christians “in number, rank and wealth.” Father Longobardi found this acceptable and wanted to change this.
Requested Hebrew speakers to convert the Jews
Father Longobardi petitioned Father Acquaviva to assign “one or two Fathers versed in the Hebrew language” the task of winning over the Chinese Jews to the Christian faith, “because they possess the Hebrew Scriptures but do not understand them since their rabbi who knew Hebrew are dead.” He added that he had met the three Jewish young men who had visited Beijing in 1609, that “having heard us say that the Messiah had already come to the world, they say that they are willing to follow Him, to worship His likeness.”
“May these fathers come,” he urged, “as there are so many Jews in several provinces in China; and those of the Cross will be retrieved together with them.”
Kaifeng had 50 to 60 thousand Jews at its peak
According to Father Longobardi, there were as many as 50 to 60 thousand Jews in Kaifeng at its peak. They were active participants in the Chinese Imperial Examinations. The Jewish religion had been influenced by local Chinese culture. As a community, however, they were not as well respected as the Muslims.