Portuguese India – 400th Death Anniversary of St. Francis Xavier

St. Francis Xavier was a Spanish missionary and one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits. Born in 1506 in the Kingdom of Navarre, he studied at the University of Paris, where he met St. Ignatius of Loyola, who inspired him to dedicate his life to missionary work.

In 1541, St. Francis set sail for Asia and spent the next decade spreading Christianity in places such as India, Japan, and the Malay Archipelago. He was known for his tireless energy, compassion for the poor, and ability to adapt to different cultures. Despite facing language barriers and harsh conditions, he baptised thousands and established strong Christian communities. St. Francis Xavier died in 1552 on an island near China, still dreaming of bringing Christianity to the Chinese people. He was canonised in 1622 and is remembered today as the patron saint of missions.

The 400th Death Anniversary of St. Francis Xavier was marked by an exposition between 3rd December 1952 and 6th January 1953. To commemorate this occasion, a government directive (no. 14073, 2nd September 1952) issued three postal stamps, postcards, special covers and souvenir sheets. The stamps were designed by Alberto de Sousa and printed on white enamel paper at Litografia Nacional S.A., Porto.