For a long time, many people in the west, especially Catholics, regarded Matteo Ricci as an admirable missionary who "induced pagans to convert". But the East regards Matteo Ricci as a scientist who promotes communication between the East and the West. This evaluation is mainly because he spread the knowledge of western geometry and geography, as well as the views of humanism and Catholicism to East Asia, and also introduced China culture to the West. So some people regard him as a sinologist.

Matteo Ricci and his colleagues won only a few followers, but later generations think that his role is the basis of future shocks. As Confucian scholars, they make it easier for China people to accept the less controversial parts of Christianity. Matteo Ricci, with keen thinking, profound knowledge and charming personality, is an ideal talent to play this role.

Matteo Ricci was one of the earliest pioneers of Catholicism in China and the first western scholar to read China literature and study China classics. Matteo Ricci not only spread Catholic teachings through "China's Works" and "Western Monks", but also made friends with China officials and celebrities to spread western scientific and technological knowledge such as astronomy, mathematics and geography. His writings not only made an important contribution to the communication between China and the West, but also had an important influence on Japan and Korea's understanding of western civilization.