Church and Cultures in the Catholic Missionary Renewal of the Early 20th Century: Critical Issues in the Thought of Costantini, Manna, and Vanzin

Abstract

This article investigates the relationship between the church and indigenous cultures in the field of missionary renewal in the early 20th century, focusing on three influential Catholic figures: Celso Costantini, Paolo Manna, and Vittorino Vanzin. In analyzing their thought and writings, the research highlights the transformation of the linguistic and conceptual tools in missiology regarding the topic in question. This transformation is articulated in three key processes: the shift from “missions” to “local churches,” “indigenization,” and the “evangelization of cultures.”