Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle has said that Saint Francis Xavier serves as “an inspiration and model in being a messenger of the Good News”, making his comments during a special Mass celebrated in India.
He was speaking at the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa on the 3 December Feast Day of the saint who became the chief missionary for the Jesuits at the very beginnings of the famous order.
Every decade, the relics of the Jesuit saint are exposed in the Indian state of Goa – this year’s exposition will end on 5 January 2025, and is organised by the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman.
Francis Xavier died in China in 1552, but his body was taken to Goa the next year. The Jesuit saint evangelised vast portions of Asia, preaching Christianity in the area of land that is now India, and also in China and Japan.
The Filipino prelate is the Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelisation of Dicastery for Evangelisation, and was one of several delegates from the Vatican attending the event in Goa.
Cardinal Tagle noted that, at first, Francis Xavier was sceptical about Ignatius of Loyola and his vision for the Jesuits.
“But after discerning God’s calling for him, he became one of the first companions of Ignatius and co-founders of the Society of Jesus,” the cardinal said.
He noted that Francis Xavier was "not the first choice of Ignatius to go to the East Indies", but that "when the original plan did not materialise, Ignatius reluctantly allowed Francis to take over".
He added: "God can call second and accidental choices."
Tagle continued: “Francis was tasked to provide pastoral care mainly to the Portuguese Catholics in Goa, then in Malacca and Maluku island, proclaiming the Gospel with zeal amidst difficulties. But the gospel of Jesus’ love is for all.
“So he ventured as a messenger of the Gospel to Japan with the intention of entering China but died on the island of Shangchuan. In all his missionary travels and activities he brought only the essential books for prayer, catechism and the devout life,” the cardinal explained.
“It was neither ambition nor conquest that gave him energy. It was love for Jesus who had loved him first. Just love, that is all that mattered. The message emboldened the messenger. The messenger embodied the message."
Around 12,000 people participated in the inauguration of the exposition of the relics. Approximately 8 million pilgrims and tourists from around the world are expected to come to Goa to visit the relics during the 45-day period of the exposition.
<em>Photo: An Indian Christian woman touches a garland to a statue of Saint Francis Xavier in the grounds of the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, India, 2 December 2003. (Photo credit ROB ELLIOTT/AFP via Getty Images.)</em>
