From Europe to Overseas. Saints, Martyrs, Heroes, Models and Soft Power in an Early Modern Global Perspective

The volume analyzes the figure of the saint as martyr, hero, and role model, focusing on the transformation of the classical heroic ideal into a Christian paradigm based on the theological virtues practiced to a heroic degree. Sainthood is also interpreted as a form of soft power, useful to the Catholic Church in asserting cultural hegemony, especially in extra-European missionary contexts. The canonization process, ecclesiastical strategies, and local devotional dynamics show how saints are products of their historical, cultural, and religious contexts. Special attention is given to Jesuit missions, which practiced a form of cultural accommodatio, as in China, where sainthood was translated and adapted to local moral concepts. Some of these "other" saints became symbols of a global Christianity, even without formal canonization. Local devotion could turn them into universal spiritual icons, contributing to the construction of Christian identity beyond Europe.