FRANCESCO BORGIA (De Borgia), Saint. — Third preposito generale of the Society of Jesus, born in Gandia (Spain) on 28 Oct. 1510, died in Rome on 30 Sept. 1572. Grand-nephew of Pope Alexander VI and of Ferdinand the Catholic. After a first education largely within the family, influenced by his grandmother and a Clarissan aunt, he fled during a revolt to Saragozza to his uncle the archbishop, where he devoted himself to studies, music, and arms. In 1523–25 he lived in Tordesillas (Valladolid) as a page to Joanna, mother of Charles V, and on returning to his uncle he completed his philosophical studies. In 1528 he passed to the court of the Emperor, and the following year, at the desire of Charles V, he married Leonora de Castro, a lady-in-waiting to the Empress, and was named Marquis of Lombai and Master of the Horse. Even then F. B. was distinguished for piety, honesty, and nobility. The death of the Empress and his meditation on the vanities of the world in the sight of her putrefying corpse at Granada (1539) effected a full conversion of the Saint of God, strengthened by the counsels of Bl. John of Avila. Named viceroy of Catalonia (1539–43) and having become Duke of Gandia (1543), F. B. governed his people with great wisdom and prudence until, on the death of his wife (1546), he was accepted into the Society of Jesus by St. Ignatius. Having made his solemn vows in 1548, he remained, by dispensation of the Pope, still in the government of the duchy until he had arranged the position of his children. In July 1548 he obtained from Paul III the bull *Paralís officii* approving the book of the Spiritual Exercises, and on 15 Oct. 1549 another, *Licei debitum*, granting important privileges to his Order, to which he also entrusted the university college erected in Gandia. In 1550, having gone to Rome for the Jubilee and received there solemnly, he decided upon his abdication, which he carried out on his return home, to the great emotion of all Europe.
Ordained priest on 23 May 1551, he began preaching journeys with great crowds in attendance. Named Commissary General for Spain and Portugal (1554), the Saint extended and strengthened the young Order, organizing provinces with their dependent missions (Florida, New Spain, and Peru), founding houses (Plasencia, Valladolid, Siviglia, Sirmancas, etc.). Charles V, who had always held him in high esteem, wished to have him near himself several times in the convent of S. Giusto, where he had retired, naming him his executor (1558). A period of trials followed, of misunderstandings with Philip II because of slanderers who had calumniated the Saint, and perplexities over the condemnation by the Spanish Inquisitor of the works of F. B. Only later was it known that the measure was due to the fact that publishers, without the Saint’s knowledge, had printed together with his own certain little orthodox writings of unknown authors. Called to Rome by Pius IV, F. B. was named Assistant for Spain and Vicar General, and after the death of Fr. Laínez he succeeded him in the government of the entire Order (1565), which he strengthened internally and externally, overseeing a new Latin version of the Constitutions, promulgating the *Regulae communes* (1567), and better formulating those of the individual offices. Spiritual practices and customs were fixed with greater determination. F. B. founded the Roman College, the novitiate of S. Andrea al Quirinale, the College of Penitents, and the Roman Seminary. He obtained the growth of the Society of Jesus in France and Germany, its introduction into Poland, and into the missions of the West Indies. He was held in great esteem by St. Pius V, though he respectfully resisted the Pope’s wish to introduce into the Order the obligation of choral prayer by altering the constitutions. Sent by the Pope on a legation to Spain, Portugal, and France for the league against the Turks, and having accomplished this important mission (1571), F. B. died in Rome. He was beatified in 1624 and canonized by Clement X on 12 Apr. 1671.
— Vedi tav. CV.