Response to Professor Feldmeier

Paul John Shore

Professor Feldmeier’s thoughtful response provides a useful context for 
considering both Lomellini’s work and the undertakings of seventeenth 
century Jesuits more generally. Jesuits such as De Nobili and Ricci were ex-
ceptional and deeply engaged with the cultures with which they dialogued. 
Far more Jesuits were like Lomellini and knew what they believed to be true 
about other faith traditions from informants or books. Since these Jesuits 
helped shape European perceptions of Islam, we need to learn more about 
how they understood that faith, and their own faith as well.