The painting represents St. Francis Xavier taking leave of King John III of Portugal, right before his departure to India on the 9th of April 1541. The Jesuit is knelt before the king while he extends his hand to greet the monarch. Behind him is Fr. Simão Rodrigues de Azevedo, the Portuguese Jesuit who initiated the Society of Jesus in Portugal. The king is surrounded by noblemen and clergy at the royal palace in Lisbon. The pair of this painting depicts Pope Paul III receiving St. Francis Xavier and His Companions.