Forbidden to preach, Navarrate occupied himself with writing, hoping in this way to spread and confirm the faith. However, he was hampered too much and left for Rome in 1673 as prefect of the Dominican mission to discuss the question of Chinese Rites. This problem had reached an acute stage in China, with the Jesuits on one side and the Dominicans and Franciscans on the other.
Due to being forbidden from preaching, Navarrate turned to writing to spread his faith. However, he was unable to fully pursue this goal and left for Rome in 1673 as a Dominican missionary to discuss the complex issue of Chinese Rites. This conflict had escalated significantly in China, pitting the Jesuits against the Dominicans and Franciscans.