Who was Roberto de Nobili?

Despite considerable opposition, his meticulously documented arguments eventually won papal approval in 1621.  He wrote many treatises in Tamil, Telegu and Sanskrit.  After a lifetime spent in prayer, study and dialogue, he died, almost blind, in Mylapore in 1656.

Three years later, his principles became official Roman policy - in 1659 the office of Propaganda Fide echoed de Nobili by stating unequivocally that European missionaries were to take with them not 'France, Spain or Italy, or any part of Europe' but the Faith 'which does not reject or damage any people's rites and customs'.