São Paulo, 1/26/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - South America's biggest city, São Paulo, was founded in 1554 when Jesuits priests, among them Father (Padre) Anchieta (c. 1530-97), set up a school at a place now called the Patio do Colégio (School Patio) in a location then known as Vila de Piratininga.

As part of the 450th anniversary celebrations of the city, the Vatican has sent some of the documents written by this man who, although born in the Canary Islands of Spanish parents, spent most of his life in Brazil and is considered the first Brazilian author and founder of Brazilian literature. Anchieta wrote sermons and letters that have become a staple in Portuguese language and literature classes to this day. This is the first time that the documents, a total of 18 out of 50, have ever left the Jesuit archives at the Vatican.

The oldest document is a letter written in 1554 describing the first mass celebrated in the region. Many believe that letter is São Paulo's birth certificate. (AB)