Ad altiora nati sumus : practical theology and cultural diplomacy in Campanellas legatio to China

Abstract

Campanella’s Quod reminiscentur is known mostly as a work on missiology, in which he suggests the convening of a world council of religious and political leaders to debate matters of

faith, in a bid to move closer towards political and religious unity. Its contents are organised in a series of legations addressed to all the nations of the world. This article focuses on the legation to China and explores its contents against the backdrop of Campanella’s naturalistic and universalistic philosophy of religion and political thought. The identification of Botero

as Campanella’s main source of information is discussed briefly with the intention of opening a path for further research.