耶穌會履華宣教在「世界化考古」所扮演的主要角色必須透過其特質來解釋：對他者的開放、人文關懷和智慧的責任。耶穌會的基督人文主義強調神愛眾人，在知識層面上尊重中華文化的特色，在實際作法上採取人類學方法，與代表上層文化的文人彼此交融、相互適應。耶穌會士身為「知識傳播者」深入中國大儒的圈子和儒家學院進行文化對談，體驗他們對於瞭解世界的意願，正如歐洲基督人文主義者致力於古文明的再發現、再詮釋一樣的強烈。

The fundamental role that the Mission of China plays in the
“archaeology of globalization” has to be explicated by means of its unique characteristics, that is, the openness to the “other,” the humanism and the responsibility of intelligence. The Jesuits emphasize God’s love for men in their Christian humanism, respect the features of Chinese culture intellectually, employ the anthropological methods practically, as well as assimilate and adjust to one another with the literati, who are the representatives of the highbrow culture. As the circulators of knowledge, the Jesuits are deeply involved in the circle of the great Chinese Confucians, have cultural dialogue with the Confucian academies and perceive the fact that the Confucians’ desire to understand the world is as strong as the European Christian humanists’ commitment to re-discover and re-interpret ancient civilizations.