User:Moriwen/Juan de la Plaza

Juan de la Plaza was a Jesuit missionary to New Spain.

Biography
Plaza was born in 1527.

Plaza received a doctorate in theology from the University of Alcalá.

Plaza served in the Jesuit administration in Spain and Italy.

In August 1573, Plaza and fellow Jesuit Diego de Bracamonte met with Juan de Ovando y Godoy, president of the Council of the Indies, to discuss the Jesuit missions in Peru.

In letters to his superiors, Plaza expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the Spanish dominion over Peru, questioning the morality of Jesuit involvement in the conquest and colonization.

Everard Mercurian assigned Plaza as plenipotentiary visitor in Peru, where he served from 1574 to 1579.

Plaza left for Peru on 19 October 1574.

Plaza arrived in Lima on 31 May 1575.

In 1576, Plaza and a group of companions traveled to the doctrina of Juli. Plaza praised the mission in his report, writing that the burden on the natives of supporting the priests was ameliorated by a royal stipend, and that the priests did not have to administer corporal punishment to the natives, instead delegating it to a vicar and corregidor.

From 1580 to 1585, Plaza was provincial superior in Mexico.

Plaza served as rector of the Jesuit college in Tepotzotlán.

In 1585, Plaza attended the Third Mexican Council.

Plaza died in 1602.