26 OCTOBER 1985, Page 31

Pedro, the fisher of souls

Elizabeth Jennings

THE LOST EMPIRE: THE STORY OF THE JESUITS IN ETHIOPIA by Philip Caraman

Sidgwick & Jackson, £13.95

Ethiopia is, of course, a potent word today; it conjures up the sight of the poor, distended bellies of tiny children, the shrunken breasts of their mothers, and the suffering of a whole nation which lives on the darker side of this planet. Thanks to the television screen, these sights have brought out the very best in the young and old who live in countries where they can be pretty sure of at least one good meal a day. Many of us also remember a totally different Ethiopia, one brought to vivid and comic life in Waugh's hilarious Scoop. Fr Caraman's book reveals yet a third picture of the same country; it is the one which, thanks to the intrepid Jesuit mis- sionaries and Pedro Paez, a Spanish one, in particular, illuminated a century of mis- sionary history which ended in 1633.

Although the Ethiopians had had their own Christian Church for many centuries, the Jesuits went to their country, at con- siderable danger to themselves, to bring that Church into communion with Rome. The fact that they were the first arrivals in many parts of Ethiopia was coincidental. Fr Caraman gives us an erudite and excit- ing narrative describing the colourful and often perilous life of Pedro Paez.

The Jesuits have always been the most enlightened of missionaries, eager to adapt local customs, traditions and beliefs to the Roman Catholic Church rather than to stamp them out. And so, in these pages, we see that ecumenism started a good deal earlier than many of us realise.

Pedro Paez was quickly recognised as a holy, enterprising and extremely charming man. It took him some years and many adventures to become an active missionary in Ethiopia. In his earlier attempt he was accompanied by a fellow Jesuit called Monserrate. In Goa in 1588, a city blessed by the memory of that archetypal mission- ary, St Francis Xavier, Paez had begun his theological studies.

His worth being swiftly recognised, he was ordained unusually quickly and began his first attempt to penetrate Ethiopia by passing through many places, among'them Tarim and Hadhramaut. When he and Monserrate entered Marib, they found it was an ancient city full of large ruins and Himyaritic inscriptions. The priests were the first men of the West to reach this city.

After numerous adventures, Paez and Monserrate were thought to be spies and imprisoned. Altogether they remained in prison for five years. Though often low in spirits, Paez took this opportunity to study Hebrew, Persian and Arabic. The priests also sang Vespers and Compline and cele- brated 'a dry Mass' which is one without wine.

After they were released from prison they suffered an even worse ordeal. They were forced to become galley-slaves about which Paez wrote: 'It [the galley] was never cleaned. Right through the night to dawn we were forced to remain sitting up . . . we lived like this for two and a half months . . .' Those who were well-disposed to- wards the two men marvelled at their courage and endurance. They were even- tually ransomed by the Viceroy at Goa.

Paez's next attempt to enter Ethiopia was instigated by the Jesuit Valignano, himself a great missionary. He had been Provincial of India from 1583 to 1587. He considered Monserrate unsuitable to accompany Paez on this occasion. Paez's patience never ceased to be tried, for the ships which had been sent to carry him on his way suffered many storms. In the disguise of an Armenian merchant he eventually reached Ethiopia by way of Massawa, its chief port, in 1603.

In this country he showed consummate tact and wisdom when he became known to Za Dengel, at that time Emperor of Ethiopia. This Emperor started a discus- sion at his court on the respective merits of the Ethiopian and Roman Churches; child- ren were also encouraged to recite their catechism. Paez, a born diplomat, tried to stop the Emperor's well-meaning but hasty attempt to become a Roman Catholic. Paez knew of the political implications of so sudden a conversion. He proved right to fear its consequences for war soon broke out. These were times when men went into battle at least in part for religious reasons.

Paez proved also to be a man who understood well how proudly the Ethio- pians had clung to their own form of Christianity when they were besieged by the Muslims. Fr Caraman gives clear accounts of the various heresies and schisms that had become a part of the Ethiopian Church in the past. But Paez was always eager to assure the Ethiopians of the teachings and tenets which they shared with Rome. He was impressed, for exam- ple, by their great devotion to Our Lady and their belief in the Real Presence, even though the latter was 'not free from much unsound theology and superstitions.'

The reign of the next Emperor, Susenyo, was dogged by war. Paez was not present at his coronation but received vivid accounts of it from the head of the Portu- guese community. Paez wrote to his friend, Ituren that Susenyo behaved to him 'more like a friend than an Emperor.' This is not surprising since Paez impressed everyone who knew him, whether casually or well, by his wisdom and compassion. This emerges with great clarity from this fasci- nating book. We also learn that Paez was instrumental in restoring 'the old grandeur to Ethiopian architecture' after the Muslim invasion. The Lost Empire is full of such felicitous detail and Fr Caraman has drawn on numerous hitherto unknown docu- ments. His story is a very exciting, true adventure one and will undoubtedly appeal to a public which is today full of enthu- siasm for a country which has suffered so much. Pedro Paez, its hero, will not easily be forgotten; he was an explorer and a diplomat as well as a great missionary and a near saint.