Saint Peter Kasui Kibe

Peter Kibe, SJ (Japanese: ペトロ岐部, romanized: Petoro Kibe; 1587 – 4 July 1639), his real name is Kibe Shigekatsu (岐部 茂勝), also known as Petro Kasui Kibe (ペトロ・カスイ岐部), was a Japanese Jesuit and Christian martyr. Active during the 17th century AD, Peter, or Petro as he was known in Portuguese, he was one of few Japanese people to visit major cities west of his native Japan, such as Rome and Jerusalem. Peter was born in 1587, in Bungo Province, to Christian parents. In 1614, he was exiled to Portuguese Macau, after the emperor ordered a deportation order of Christians. He learned Latin and theology at a theological school in Macau. However, he and other Japanese knew it would be hard to be priests because of nationality discrimination, so they left the school to go to Rome. He went to Portuguese Malacca and Goa in Portuguese India by ship, and then left for Europe on foot via Persia, the Strait of Hormuz and Baghdad, finally becoming the first Japanese Christian to arrive in Jerusalem. After a difficult journey that lasted three years he arrived in Rome after sailing through the Mediterranean Sea. From Macau, a letter telling "Japanese who left Macau would go to Rome, but don't talk to them." was sent to Rome. However, in Rome, Jesuits examined Kibe and found out he had enough knowledge and was suited for a priest. On 15 November 1620, he became a Jesuit priest at age of 32 at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. Afterward, he was trained for two years at a Jesuit training school in Rome, and took his vows as a Jesuit priest in Lisbon. In 1623, he departed for India with twenty Jesuits. Next year, he arrived at Goa via Cape of Good Hope. Kibe made the decision to return to Japan; a dangerous undertaking due to the decision of Tokugawa Ieyasu to ban Christianity and the entry of Christian missionaries, owing to the perceived poor behaviour of the Jesuits. Kibe had difficulty finding a ship which would allow him to board.