“His very intense activity was always combined with prayer, with mystical and contemplative union with God… The love of Christ was the force that pushed him to the furthest borders” (Pope Francis, 17 May 2023).

Patron of our Xaverian congregation, Francis Xavier (Javier, 7 April 1506 – Isle of Sancian, 3 December 1552), was a Spanish Jesuit and missionary, proclaimed a saint in 1622 by Pope Gregory XV. He was a pioneer of the spread of Christianity in Asia, as a representative of the Portuguese monarchy. In 1927 the Catholic Church proclaimed him Patron Saint of the missions together with Saint Therese of Lisieux.

And here, therefore, are some words of Pope Francis from the general audience in the Vatican on 17 May 2023 on "Xavier and young people".

Text/Video of the audience with Pope Francis (17.05.2023)