born Oct. 6, 1552, Macerata, Papal States
died May 11, 1610, China
Italian Jesuit missionary who introduced Christianity to China.
From a noble family, he was educated by the Jesuits, whose order he joined after studying law in Rome. He volunteered for missionary work overseas, arrived in Goa in 1578, and proceeded to China in 1582. China's interior was closed to foreigners when he arrived, but his willingness to adopt the Chinese language and culture gave him entry. In 1597 he was appointed director of Jesuit activities in China. In 1599 he settled in Nanjing, where he studied astronomy and geography. In 1601 he was finally admitted to Beijing, where he preached the Gospel, taught science to scholars, and translated Christian works into Chinese.