| Chico Xavier | |
|---|---|
| Born | Francisco de Paula Cândido April 2, 1910 Pedro Leopoldo, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Died | June 30, 2002 (aged 92) Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil |
| Known for | Popular medium in 20th century Brazil's Spiritism movement |
Chico Xavier, born Francisco de Paula Cândido (April 2, 1910 - June 30, 2002) was a popular medium in Brazil's spiritism movement who wrote 413 books, ostensibly using a process known as "psychography".[1][2]
Xavier was born in the city of Pedro Leopoldo, State of Minas Gerais and is popularly known as "Chico Xavier" (Chico is the Portuguese nickname for Francisco). Heavily influenced by works of Allan Kardec, Xavier professed that his hand was guided by spirits. Xavier called his spiritual guide Emmanuel, who according to Xavier, lived in ancient Rome as Senator Publius Lentulus, was reincarnated in Spain as Father Damian, and later as a professor at the Sorbonne.[2]
Xavier's work produced religious teachings, novels, and works of philosophy. His books sold an estimated 50 million copies, the profits of which were all channelled into charity work. In 1981 and 1982, he was nominated for the Nobel peace prize.[2]
Xavier believed he was only a channel for the work of the spirits; that he was not able to produce any miracle, such as healing people, and he could not contact someone that was dead, unless that person was willing to be contacted. His appearances on TV talk shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s helped to establish Kardecist Spiritism as one of the religions professed in Brazil. Xavier's popularity remained unchanged in Brazil throughout his life. Despite health problems he kept working up to his death, on June 30, 2002 in Uberaba. In 2010, a movie biography entitled Chico Xavier was released in Brazil. Directed by Daniel Filho, the film dramatized Xavier's life.[3]
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