A study conference on the Spanish priest Juan Bautista Vives: He contributed to the creation of the "Collegio de Propaganda Fide"

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Juan Bautista Vives, together with the Lucca-born priest Giovanni Leonardi and the Jesuit Martin de Funes, contributed to the creation of the "Collegio de Propaganda Fide," which was founded in 1627 by Pope Urbano VIII with the bull "Immortalis Dei Filius," from whom it also received the name "Collegio Urbano." Juan Bautista Vives, a native of Valencia, actively collaborated with Popes Gregory XV and Urbano VIII and was a member of the "Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide," the Dicastery of the Holy See established more than 400 years ago to support and coordinate the missionary work of the Catholic Church throughout the world. In Palazzo Ferratini, his Roman residence near the Spanish Steps, the "Collegio de Propaganda Fide" was founded with the goal of training missionaries spiritually, theologically, and culturally prepared to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world.

On Tuesday, June 10, at 6 p.m., a conference dedicated to the figure of the Spanish priest will take place in the National Church of Spain (Hall in Rome's Via Giulia). Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization (Section for the First Evangelization and the New Particular Churches), will also participate in the conference, entitled "At the Service of the Universal Mission: Juan Bautista Vives, Founder of the Collegio de Propaganda Fide."

Juan Buatista Vives' "deeply ecclesial vision" and "his commitment," states the conference press release, "gave rise to a work that marked the history of modern evangelization."
The versatile Spanish priest was linked to King Philip III and also served as representative of the Spanish Inquisition in Rome and ambassador of the Kingdom of Kongo's first permanent embassy in the Eternal City. Thanks to his initiative, the remains of Popes Callistus III and Alexander VI were transferred to the Church of Santa Maria di Montserrat degli Spagnoli in the Regola district of Rome, where he is also buried.
At the study conference on Tuesday, June 10, Cardinal Tagle will be joined by Don Flavio Belluomini, archivist of the Propaganda Fide Historical Archives, and Don Francisco Juan Martínez Rojas of the Spanish Institute of Church History. The conference will be moderated by Pierantonio Piatti, Secretary of the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences, the body sponsoring body of the conference. (Agenzia Fides, 7/6/2025)

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