Frei Galvão

Antônio de Sant'Anna Galvão, called: Frei Galvão, (* 1739 in Guaratinguetá, São Paulo, † December 23, 1822 in São Paulo) was a Brazilian Franciscan ( OFM) and is a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. On 11 May 2007 he became the first Brazilian by Pope Benedict XVI. canonized.

Antônio Galvão occurred in 1760 in the Franciscan Monastery in São Paulo one. He spent his life as a pastor in town and concentrated especially on helping the poor. In 1774 he founded the Mosteiro da Luz, which under the prevailing political currents (Prohibition of Jesuits, prohibition of construction of the church ) was not easy. 1822, the year in which Brazil became independent, he died and was buried in the Mosteiro da Luz Monastery, where his grave attracts numerous pilgrims.

1998 was beatified Antônio Galvão by Pope John Paul II. His canonization by Pope Benedict XVI. is the first canonization of a Native Brazilian and the first canonization, the Pope personally directed this during a trip abroad.