Saint Francis Xavier, Priest and Apostle of the Indies

Saint Francis Xavier (1506–1552) was a Spanish Basque nobleman, co-founder of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), and one of the greatest Christian missionaries since the Apostles. While studying at the University of Paris, Xavier was won to Christ by Saint Ignatius of Loyola through the challenge: "What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world, yet lose his soul?" Sent by Pope Paul III as Apostolic Nuncio to the East Indies in 1541, Xavier labored tirelessly for eleven years across India, Ceylon, Malacca, the Moluccas, and Japan, baptizing over 30,000 converts, learning native languages, and founding Christian communities. Xavier died of fever on the island of Sancian while attempting to enter mainland China, and was proclaimed Patron of Catholic Missions alongside Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.