Chico Xavier

Francisco Cândido Xavier (2 April 1910 – 30 June 2002), born Francisco de Paula Cândido ([fɾɐ̃ˈsisku dʒi ˈpawlɐ ˈkɐ̃dʒidu]) and commonly known as Chico Xavier (Portuguese: [ˈʃiku ʃɐviˈɛʁ]), was a Brazilian philanthropist and spiritist medium. Over a period of 60 years, he wrote over 490 books and several thousand letters claiming to use a process known as "psychography". Books based on old letters and manuscripts were published posthumously, bringing the total number of books to 496. Xavier's works covered a wide range of topics, including religion, philosophy, historical romances and novels, Portuguese literature, poetry, and science, as well as thousands of letters intended to console bereaved families during his psychographic sessions. His books sold an estimated 50 million copies. Xavier believed that his spiritual guide Emmanuel lived in ancient Rome as Senator Publius Lentulus, was reincarnated in Spain as Father Damien, and later as a professor at the Sorbonne. He often mentioned he could not contact a deceased person unless the spirit was willing to be contacted. His appearances on TV talk shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s helped to establish Spiritism as one of the major religions professed in Brazil, with more than 5 million followers. Despite his health problems, he kept working up to his death on 30 June 2002 in Uberaba. In 2010, a movie biography entitled Chico Xavier was released in Brazil. Directed by Daniel Filho, the film dramatised Xavier's life. On 3 October 2012, the SBT television TV show O Maior Brasileiro de Todos os Tempos named Chico Xavier "The Greatest Brazilian of all time", based on a viewer-supported survey. Xavier has been accused of fraud regarding his claimed abilities, with critics questioning the authenticity of his prolific psychographic output.