CABRAL, FRANCISCO

CABRAL, Francisco. - Jesuit missionary, born in 1533 on the island of São Miguel (Azores), but from a family of Covilhã (Portugal); died in Goa on 16 April 1609. He embarked in 1550 for the Indies, where he entered (December 1554) the Society of Jesus. Ordained priest in 1558, he taught theology (1561), was rector of the college of Bazaim (1562-66) and of that of Cochin (1567). In August 1568 he was sent to Macao and in June 1570 he landed in Japan, where for twelve years he was superior of the entire mission, giving a strong impetus to the conversion movement and winning the sympathy of local princes. Coming into conflict with the Visitor Alessandro Valignano over the methods to be followed in the Japanese mission, he obtained to be relieved of his position (1581), remaining for some time superior of the district of Bungo. Rector of the college of Macao, and as such superior of the new mission to China (1583-85), he then returned to India where he was superior of the professed house of Goa and provincial of the Indies (1593-96). His letters (1571-98) are published in various collections of the time relating to the missions of the Far East.