Who Is Divaldo Franco

Divaldo Pereira Franco (born 1927) is a Brazilian Spiritist educator, public speaker, philanthropist, and one of the most prolific and influential figures in the global Spiritist movement. Over a career spanning more than seven decades, Franco has delivered thousands of public lectures across dozens of countries, founded major charitable institutions, and produced an enormous body of written work—much of it through the Spiritist practice of psychography, or mediumistic writing, in which the author serves as a channel for communication from discarnate spirits.

Franco's significance extends far beyond the Spiritist community. His philanthropic work, centered on the Mansão do Caminho (Mansion of the Path) institution in Salvador, Bahia, has provided education, housing, healthcare, and vocational training to thousands of impoverished families. His public lectures, known for their eloquence and depth, have introduced Spiritist concepts—including the continuity of consciousness after death, the moral law of cause and effect, and the importance of charity and service—to audiences worldwide. Franco represents the Spiritist ideal of integrating spiritual understanding with practical service to humanity, demonstrating that Spiritist philosophy is not merely theoretical but has direct implications for how people live and serve others.

Core Concepts

1. Spiritist philosophy as a guide to ethical living
   • Franco's life and teaching embody the Spiritist principle that spiritual knowledge must be expressed through moral development and practical service. He teaches that understanding the spiritual dimensions of reality—reincarnation, the continuity of consciousness, the law of moral cause and effect—should transform how we treat others, how we respond to suffering, and how we understand our own lives.
2. Mediumistic writing as spiritual communication
   • Franco has produced hundreds of books through psychography, presenting the work as communications from evolved spirits offering moral and spiritual guidance. This practice connects to a long tradition within Spiritism of using mediumship not for prediction or spectacle but for education and moral uplift.
3. Charity and service as spiritual practice
   • Through Mansão do Caminho and other institutions, Franco has demonstrated the Spiritist commitment to translating spiritual principles into concrete social action. His charitable work—serving the poorest and most vulnerable communities—reflects the Spiritist teaching that love expressed through service is the highest form of spiritual practice.
4. Public education in Spiritist thought
   • Franco's thousands of public lectures have been a primary vehicle for spreading Spiritist ideas beyond Brazil to international audiences. His eloquent, accessible presentation style has made complex spiritual concepts available to diverse audiences and has helped position Spiritism as a serious intellectual and spiritual tradition.

Essential Writings

• Lectures and mediumistic works
  • Franco's primary contributions are his extensive lectures on Spiritist philosophy and the mediumistic works attributed to various spirits through his mediumship. His lectures, delivered across Brazil and internationally, have helped spread Spiritist ethical teachings and charitable philosophy to new audiences.
  • Best use: for those interested in contemporary Spiritist thought and the practical application of Kardecist principles to everyday life and social service.

Image Attribution

“Divaldo Pereira 2.jpg” by Fran6fran6, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed CC BY-SA 3.0. Link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADivaldo_Pereira_2.jpg