Divaldo Pereira Franco, the renowned medium, was born in 1927 in the city of Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. From his childhood, he displayed a remarkable ability to communicate with Spirits. However, his youth was marked by considerable challenges, especially within his own family, where his powerful mediumship often subjected him to criticism and even physical punishment, as some of his older siblings and his father saw his visions as something demonic.
A diligent student, Divaldo Franco graduated as a primary school teacher from the Escola Normal Rural (Rural Normal School) of Feira de Santana. For many years, he worked as a civil servant at the former IPASE (Institute of Pensions and Assistance for State Servants) in Salvador, where he remained until his retirement in 1980.
Today, Divaldo Franco is recognized as one of the greatest mediums and speakers of Spiritism, widely respected as the foremost propagator of the doctrine worldwide. At 96 years old, he has delivered over 20,000 lectures and seminars in 71 countries.
In addition to his remarkable oratory, Divaldo is prolific in mediumistic writing, collaborating with various Spirits in more than 250 Spiritist books published in multiple languages, totaling over 8 million copies sold. His most notable literary partnership was with his spirit mentor, Joanna de Ângelis, with whom he wrote his first book, “Messe de Amor” (Harvest of Love) in 1964.
Through the works of Joanna de Ângelis, Divaldo transcended the boundaries of Spiritism and found recognition in other fields of knowledge, such as psychology. In the Psychological Series, consisting of 16 books, Joanna delves deeply into the importance of self-knowledge, inviting readers on a journey of inner reform. While writing the series, Joanna drew from the teachings of Jesus and Allan Kardec, as well as notably incorporating the Analytical Psychology of psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung.
In the philanthropic realm, Divaldo Franco also stands out. All profits from the sale of his books and copyrights are entirely dedicated to his grand humanitarian work, the Mansão do Caminho (Mansion of the Way), and other charitable entities.
Founded by Divaldo Franco and his friend Nilson de Souza Pereira in 1952 in Salvador, Bahia, the Mansão do Caminho initially aimed to shelter and educate orphaned children in the system of substitute homes. Divaldo raised and adopted over 600 children as his own, many of whom are now emancipated. Today, the Mansão do Caminho has become a complex of education, social assistance, and healthcare, with 44 buildings covering 74,000 square meters. It provides free material, educational, and spiritual support to over 5,000 people daily, including nearly two thousand students who go through all stages of education within the institution, from nursery school to high school.
Divaldo Franco has received over 700 honors for his humanitarian, Spiritist, literary, and speaking work, from cultural, social, religious, political, and governmental institutions. His life and journey serve as a source of inspiration for all of us. For those who wish to learn more about Divaldo’s life, in 2019, the enriching film “Divaldo Franco – The Messenger of Peace” was released.
References: Mansão do Caminho website, Brazilian Spiritist Federation – FEB, Wikipedia.
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