BETANZOS, DOMINGO DE

BETANZOS, DOMINGO de. - B. at León in 1480, he studied at Salamanca; he lived for some time as a hermit on the island of Ponza, then became a Dominican at Salamanca (1510). Ordained priest in 1513, he went to the island of S. Domingo, where he took part (1516–19) in the struggle of his brethren for the rights of the Indians. In 1522 he won Las Casas for the Order. Once Mexico had been discovered and conquered, he went there in 1526 with the first group of Dominicans, led by Tommaso Ortiz. The latter, immediately returning to Spain, left B. with the task and the honour of organizing the new foundation. In 1531 B. returned to Europe, where he worked for the establishment in Mexico of a Dominican province distinct from that of S. Croce delle Antille, erected in 1539. He obtained his aim by a bull of Clemente VII dated 11 Aug. 1532. During his stay in Spain, he gave the Council of the Indies an unfavourable opinion concerning the abilities of the Indians, an opinion which he himself repudiated on his deathbed. Having returned to Mexico in 1535, he was elected provincial prior and remained in office until 1538. In 1545 he was refused permission to go as a missionary to China, whereas in 1548 he was granted permission to visit the Holy Land. D. while travelling, at Valladolid, on 13 Aug. 1549.

Raimondo Loenertz