西藏一直吸引歐洲傳教士。因為它在喜馬拉雅山的位置極其困難，而且對外國人不開放，只有少數人能到達拉薩。這些眾多的障礙並沒有阻止三位歐洲耶穌會傳教士：António de Andrade（1580-1634）、Johann Grüber（1623-1680）與Ippolito Desideri（1684-1733）。他們在不同時期（1624、1661、1716）來到西藏，學習當地人的生活與宗教信仰。回到歐洲後，他們寫關於西藏的記述、信件與著作，如：Novo descombrimento do Gram Cathayo ou Reinos de Tibet（1627, Andrade），“The Dress, Customs, and Habits…”（1656-1664, Grüber）與An Account of Tibet. The Travels of Ippolito Desideri of Pistoia, S.J.（1712-1727, Desideri）。它們被翻譯成多種歐洲語言，對歐洲人對於西藏的了解產生了重大影響。本文將描述與介紹17和18世紀耶穌會傳教士與西藏的相遇，強調Andrade、Grüber與Desideri三個傳教士描述西藏文化與宗教的特色。

Tibet has been attracting European missionaries for years. However, because of its extremely difficult location in the Himalayas and the fact that it was closed to foreigners, only few of them could reach Lhasa. These numerous obstacles did not stop three European Jesuit missionaries: Fathers António de Andrade (1580-1634), Johann Grüber (1623-1680) and Ippolito Desideri (1684-1733). In various periods (1624, 1661, 1716) they came to Tibet, met local people and learned about their life and their religion. After coming back to Europe they wrote extensive accounts, letters, and works on Tibet, published as: Novo descombrimento do Gram Cathayo ou Reinos de Tibet…1 (1627, Andrade), “The Dress, Customs, and Habits…”2 (1656-1664, Grüber), and An Account of Tibet. The Travels of Ippolito Desideri of Pistoia, S.J.,3 (1712-1727, Desideri). They were translated into many European languages and had a significant impact on the European knowledge about Tibet. The Encounter of Jesuit Missionaries with Tibet in the 17 and 18 centuries is described and presented in the article, based on the three overmentioned works of Andrade, Grüber and Desideri dealing with Tibetan culture and religion.