John of Monte Corvino

Before John of Monte Corvino became a Franciscan friar he held a number of secular posts including doctor, judge, and soldier.
In 1291 he was sent as a legate of Pope Nicholas IV to the court of Kublai Khan in China, about the same time Marco Polo was traveling home.
Unfortunately when he reached Bejing, Kublai Khan had died.
Undeterred  he founded two Churches and made over six thousand converts.

John of Montecorvino departed this life (1328) and is honoured as a saint by Christian and heathen.