LONGOBARDI, NICOLÒ. - Jesuit, missionary, b. at Caltagirone in 1565, d. at Pechino on 11 Dec. 1655.
Having arrived at Macao, China, in 1597, he began his apostolate the following year; fruitful in conversions, despite calumnies and grave dangers, it was to last almost 60 years. From 1610 to 1622 he was superior of the entire Chinese mission, appointed to that office by Fr. M. Ricci himself on his deathbed; from 1623 to 1640, superior of Pechino. He founded the mission of Shantung. In the question of the Chinese names for God, raised by him after Ricci’s death, and consequently in that of the rites, he defended the stricter position.
There remain some books of prayers in Chinese, and several reports and letters, published only in part.
BIBL.: Sommervogel, IV, cols. 1931-33; D. Bartoli, La Cina, II, Torino 1823, chaps. 167-84; 216; 228; IV, ivi 1825, chap. 195; P. Tacchi Venturi, Opere storiche del p. M. Ricci, 2 vols., Macerata 1913, V. indice; L. Pfister, Notices biog. et bibliogr. sur les Jeuilles de l'ancienne mission de Chine, I, Zikawi 1932, pp. 58-66; P. d'Elia, Fonti ricciane, I and II, Roma 1942-43, V. indice. Celestino Testore