Statue Blessed Petrus Kasui Kibe By Yasutake Funakoshi

Blessed Petrus Kasui Kibe

Also known as: the Japanese Marco Polo

Blessed

Post-Congregation

Feast Day

4-Jul

Born

C.1587 in Kibe, Oita, Japan

Died

Run through with a spear on 4 July 1639 in Tokyo, Japan

Beatified

24 November 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI; beatification recognition celebrated at the Nagasaki Prefectural Baseball Park, Nagasaki, Japan, presided by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins

Venerated

1 June 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI (decree of martyrdom)

Biography

Blessed Petrus Kasui Kibe, also known as the Japanese Marco Polo, was born around 1587 in Kibe, Oita, Japan, into a devout Christian family. From a young age, he felt a calling to the priesthood and began his studies at seminary when he was only 13 years old. At the age of 19, he started studying Jesuit spirituality in 1606, immersing himself in the teachings and practices of the Society of Jesus.

Cause for Canonization

Beatified

Beatified2008-11-24 by 24 November 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI; beatification recognition celebrated at the Nagasaki Prefectural Baseball Park, Nagasaki, Japan, presided by Cardinal José Saraiva Martins