１８ 世纪的耶稣会曾是一个庞大的国际性修会组织， 但因其直接服从罗马教廷的领导以及在海外的传教活动广遭诟病， 教皇克莱芒十四世在欧洲多国的压力下， 被迫于 １７７３ 年通过敕书 “吾主救世主”宣布取缔了有两百多年历史的耶稣会。 这一事件使得原本在华就存在利益纷争的葡萄牙和罗马传信部开始 觊觎和染指北京法国传教团的财产。 法国在京前耶稣会士和法国国王及大臣们突破各种阻力， 共同展开了一场持续了整十年、 跨越两大洲的保卫战。 在他们的不懈努力下， 教廷传信部最终于 １７８３ 年同意将北京法国传教团交由遣使会接管。 １８１４ 年， 教皇庇护七世重建耶稣会， １８４２ 年， 耶稣会士重返中国，但北京地区仍由遣使会负责。

In the 18th century，the Society of Jesus developed into an enormous international religious order. Unfortunately in 1773，over 200 years since its foundation，it was suppressed by Pope Clément XIV by the promulgation of the papal brief-Dominus ac Redemptor after encountering much criticism for its submission to the leadership of the Roman Curia and the missionary work it carried out overseas. The incident prompted the Portuguese and the Roman Congregations for the Propagation of the Faith who had long-standing conflicting interests in China to grab the property used to belong to the French mission in Peking. To protect them from being snatched by other countries，the former members of the Jesuits in conjunction with the French Emperor and some ministers started a hard-won battle over the ownership of these properties that took over a decade and engaged stakeholders across two continents. Thanks to their consistent efforts，the Roman Congregations for the Propagation of the Faith eventually approved in 1783 that the French mission in Peking should be taken over by the French Congregation of the Mission ( Lazarists) . In 1814，the Society of Jesus was reinstated by Pie VII and in 1842 members of the Society was dispatched back to China and the Mission of Peking has remained the responsibility of the French Congregation of the Mission ever since.