Cultural Itinerary of Francis Xavier

The route of St Francis Xavier combines a series of tangible and intangible elements, forming a thread which explains the relations between different societies and cultures. For this reason, the route includes the Castle of Xavier (Pamplona, Navarre), birthplace of St Francis Xavier; Paris (where he studied and began his friendship with St Ignatius of Loyola); Goa, India (where he preached and looked after the ill); Malacca, Malaysia (where he carried out his teachings of the catechism); Kagoshima, Japan (where he translated the doctrine of the Society of Jesus to Japanese); Yamaguchi, Japan (where his preachings became immensely popular); and Sancian, near Canton, where he died. Nowadays he is worshipped in St Paul’s Church in Goa, a centre of pilgrimage not only for Christians but also for Muslims, Hindus and Parsis.