ENI – Roman Catholics in Japan are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of St. Francis Xavier, the Catholic missionary who brought Christianity to Japan in 1549. The saint was born on April 7, 1506.
In this multi-religious but largely secularized country, Francis Xavier is so famous that his name and his portrait are said to be familiar to young children, who learn about him at primary schools.
In Kagoshima, where he landed in1549, St. Xavier's Cathedral plans to hold concerts to mark the celebration. And in Tokyo, the Kanda Catholic Church, also known as St. Francis Xavier, held a commemorative mass in December.
