Bangkok (AsiaNews) – The Thai Church today marked the 500th anniversary of the birth of St Francis Xavier in a mass presided over by Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu. The Jesuit missionary, who dedicated his life to the evangelization of Asia, was born on 7 April 1506 in Yesa, Navarre (Spain). He died on the night of 2 December 1552 on the island of Sanchiang, at the mouth of the River of Pearls, a few km from Canton in China.

Today the rector of the Church of St Francis Xavier in Bangkok, Fr Joseph Prateep Kiratipong, celebrated a commemoration mass, presided over by Cardinal Kitbunchu, chairman of the Thai Bishops' Conference. The Eucharistic celebration also marked the 60th anniversary of the reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej, described by the cardinal as "defensor of all faiths".

In his homily, the cardinal drew the attention of the congregation to the concept of Christian love: "Loving one another mutually, as we love ourselves, is what Thai society to promote peace destroyed by controversies, vendettas and persecution."

Fr Kiratipong said the church committee planned to publish a short history of St Francis Xavier. The priest said he hoped the "Year of Evangelization under way will be an opportunity, for all Catholics and those who are interested, to get to know more and more about the personality of this Apostle of Asia".