Protestant competition, and revival of Catholic religious orders backed by the aid of clerical-lay circles in Europe and the Papacy increased missionary activity in the nineteenth century. Exploration in Africa also played its role, along with the warfare that opened China to western penetration in both positive and negative ways. Dr. John Rao discusses the missionary movement in detail, indicating also the unfortunate clashes of different Catholic missionary forces. Taken from: Phoenix in a Fiery World: Church in the 19th Century - 1999 VonHildebrand Institute