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[German Version] (c. 1490, Calzadilla, Extremadura, Spain – 1538, Tocuyo, Venezuela). In 1510 Ortíz entered the order of the Dominicans, and in 1513 traveled to the New World, where he founded new settlements of the order and was active in mission; in 1526 he became vicar general of the order for New Spain. At first he worked with B. de las Casas, but later, confrontation with him grew because Ortíz increasingly rejected his policy of friendship with the Indians; he accused the natives of cannibal…

[German Version] (1480, León – Sep 13, 1549, Valladolid). After studying law in Salamanca, Betanzos entered the Dominican order (Dominicans) in 1511. With the first Dominican missionaries in the New World, he committed himself to protecting the indigenous Americans, who were being oppressed by the Spanish settlers. He cooperated with P. de Córdoba and B. de Las …

[German Version] (died Sep, 1567, Ciudad Real [now San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexico) entered the Dominicans in 1533, initially teaching logic at the house of studies in San Esteban, Salamanca. He hastily set out for the New World in the missionary territory of Chiapas in 1544 and wrote an account of his travels with interesting details about the social, religious, and cultural environment and his meetings with natives, sometimes in the company of B. de Las Casas. He was the Dominican superior in…

[German Version] (Dec 9, 1579, Lima – Nov 3, 1639, Lima), illegitimate son of a Spanish nobleman and a black freedwoman. He joined the Dominican order as a lay brother in 1603; he cared for the sick, led an ascetic life, and distinguished himself through extraordinary service to others and deep piety. Because of his parentage, he was consistently discriminated against. He engaged in local charitable work in his home city, including the establishment of various social institutions. He was beatified…

[German Version] (born in Villahermosa – Feb 26, 1550, Leon, Nicaragua), a Dominican who traveled from Spain to Nicaragua in 1543. Following a request ¶ by Charles V to Paul III that B. de Las Casas be made bishop of the diocese of Chiapas and Valdivieso be made bishop of the diocese of Nicaragua, he was consecrated bishop on Nov 9, 1545. His campaign for the rights of indigenous Americans earned him the sobriquet padre de los indios, found for example in several letters he and Las Casas addressed to the Spanish administration. His commitment earned him martyrdom. Thomas Eggensperger Bibliogra…

[English Version] Valdivieso, Antonio de (geb. in Villahermosa – 26.2.1550 Leon, Nicaragua), Dominikaner, Reise von Spanien nach Nicaragua (1543). Auf Bitten Karls V. an Paul III. um das Bischofsamt für B.de  Las Casas (Diöz. Chiapas) und V. (Diöz. Nicaragua, 1543) wurde er am 9.11.1545 zum Bischof ernannt. V. erhielt wegen seines Kampfs für die Rechte der amer. Ureinwohner den Beinamen »padre de los indios«, u.a. bezeugt in diversen mit Las Casas vf. Briefen an die span. Administration. Infolge dieses Engagements erlitt er das Martyrium. Thomas Eggensperger Bibliography Briefe…

[English Version] Orti´z, Toma´s (ca.1490 Calzadilla, Extremadura – 1538 Tocuyo, Venezuela), 1510 Eintritt in den Orden der Dominikaner, Reise in die Neue Welt (1513), Gründung neuer Ordensniederlassungen und Missionstätigkeit, Generalvikar des Ordens für Neuspanien (1526). Nach anfänglicher Zusammenarbeit wachsende Konfrontation mit B. de  Las Casas, dessen indianerfreundliche Politik er zunehmend ablehnte, Kannibalismusvorwurf gegen die Ureinwohner (1524) und weitere aggressive Polemiken, Koopera…

[English Version] Porres, Marti´n de (9.12.1579 Lima – 3.11.1639 ebd.), unehelicher Sohn eines span. Adligen und einer Mulattin. Eintritt als Laienbruder in den Orden der Dominikaner (1603); Krankenpfleger, führte ein bescheidenes Leben und tat sich hervor durch außerordentliche Dienste am Nächsten und durch tiefe Religiosität. Wegen seiner Abstammung wurde er konsequent benachteiligt; lokale karitative Aktivitäten in seiner Heimatstadt (Bau von diversen sozialen Einrichtungen). Seligsprechung (1837…

[English Version] Torre, Tomás de la (gest. September 1567 Ciudad Real, heute San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Mexiko), 1533 Dominikaner, zunächst Lehrer für Logik am Generalstudium in San Esteban, Salamanca. T. brach überraschend in die Neue Welt in das Missionsgebiet von Chiapas auf (1544) und vf. einen Reisebericht mit interessanten Details über das soziale, rel., kulturelle Umfeld und die Begegnung mit Einheimischen, u.a. gemeinsam mit B. de  Las Casas. Er war Ordensoberer in Chiapas und Guatemala (15…