Juan de Ribera

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Saint Juan de Ribera was born in the city of Seville, Spain, on March 20, 1532; and died in Valencia on January 6, 1611. His father was Pedro de Ribera, Viceroy of Naples and Duke of Alcala. He became an orphan from mother's side at a very young age.

Juan de Ribera studied at the University of Salamanca. Ordained as priest in 1557, Pope Pius IV appointed him bishop of Badajoz on May 27, 1562, at the age of 30. There he dedicated to teach cathechism to catholics and counteract Protestantism. After his appointment as Archbishop of Valencia on December 3, 1568, the king appointed him Viceroy, and thus became both religious and civil authority. There he founded the Museum of the Patriarch, known among Valencians as College of Saint John, entrusted to the formation of priests according to the spirit and the dispositions of the Council of Trent. Following Spanish policy by Philip III, he proceeded to expel moriscos from Valencia in 1609.

The religious climate of Counter-Reformation, and to the personality and artistic patronage of the Saint turned him into one of the most influential figures of his times, holding appointments as Archbishop and Viceroy of Valencia, patriarch of Antioch, Commander in Chief, president of the Audiencia, and Chancellor of the University. He was beatified in 1796 and canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1960.