Many people in this area do not become Christians simply because there is no one to make them Christians. And so I often find myself thinking that I should visit all the academic institutions across Europe – especially the University of Paris – and everywhere shout like a madman to awaken those in whom there is more knowledge than love with the cry: “How terrible is the number of those who, because of you, will not reach heaven and are hurtling towards hell!”
May those people care about this issue at least as much as they do about cultivating science, so that one day they could render accounts to God not only for their education but for all the entrusted talents!
(Francis Xavier /1506–1552/, correspondence from India, 1540s)
