The Jesuits, or Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic religious order, have had a long history of missions in East and South Asia from their very foundation in the 16th century; St. Francis Xavier, a friend of St. Ignatius of Loyola and co-founder of the Society, visited India, the Moluques, Japan and died (1552) as he was attempting to enter China. See also Alessandro Valignano Christianity in China Christianity in Taiwan Christianity in India Christianity and the History of the Catholic Church in Japan Francis Xavier Jesuit China missions Matteo Ricci Ferdinand Verbiest Pedro Arrupe Roberto de Nobili Thomas Stephens (Jesuit)