Andrew of Perugia

Who was Andrew of Perugia?

Andrew of Perugia was a Franciscan friar and Bishop born in Perugia, Italy, and active in China in the 14th century. He was Bishop of Quanzhou in Fujian from 1322.

He was initially sent to China in 1307 by Pope Clement V as a member of a group of seven Franciscan bishops who were to act as suffragans to consecrate John of Montecorvino Archbishop of Peking and summus archiepiscopus 'chief archbishop'. Only three of these envoys arrived safely: Gerardus, Peregrinus and Andrew of Perugia.

The three suffragans consecrated John in 1308 and succeeded each other in the episcopal see of Zaiton, established by Montecorvino. In 1322, Andrew of Perugia was nominated bishop of the see of Zaiton by John of Montecorvino.

A 1326 letter by Andrew to Friar Warden of the Convent of Perugia is known, mentionning the archbishop.

"Friar Andrew of Perugia, of the Order of Minor Friars, by Divine permission called to be Bishop, to the reverend father the Friar Warden of the Convent of Perugia, health and peace in the Lord for ever!..."

— Opening lines of the letter from Andrew Bishop of Zayton in Manzi or Southern China, 1326 Full text

Andrew died around 1332 in Quanzhou. His tombstone has been discovered in 1946, and has been transferred to Beijing, with a copy left in the Quanzhou Maritime Museum. Remarkably, the tomstone displays "Nestorian" Christian iconography.