Consider the following statements: 1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order. 2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there. 3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Answer: C. Statements 1 and 3 are correct; Statement 2 is wrong. Statement 1 is CORRECT. ST FRANCIS XAVIER (1506-1552) was a SPANISH BASQUE CATHOLIC MISSIONARY and ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY OF JESUS (Jesuit Order). The Jesuits were co-founded in 1540 by IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA and a small group of companions including Francis Xavier, Peter Faber, and others, formally approved by Pope Paul III in 1540 through the bull 'Regimini militantis Ecclesiae'. Francis Xavier became the most famous of the early Jesuit missionaries to Asia. Statement 2 is WRONG. St. Francis Xavier did NOT die in Goa. He died on 3 DECEMBER 1552 on SHANGCHUAN ISLAND off the coast of CHINA while waiting for permission to enter mainland China for missionary work. His body was first buried on Shangchuan, then taken to Malacca (Malaysia), and finally to GOA in 1554. His incorrupt body is enshrined at the BASILICA OF BOM JESUS in OLD GOA (a UNESCO World Heritage site). Statement 3 is CORRECT. The FEAST OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER is celebrated annually in GOA on 3 DECEMBER (his death anniversary). It is a major Christian religious and cultural event. Every 10 years (most recently 2014, then 2024), the BODY OF ST FRANCIS XAVIER is EXPOSED FOR PUBLIC VENERATION (Exposition of the Sacred Relics), drawing pilgrims from around the world. Source: Society of Jesus historical records / Archdiocese of Goa & Daman / UNESCO World Heritage Site description.