LOAYSA, JERÓNIMO de. — Dominican, first bishop and archbishop of Lima (Peru), born at Trujillo (Estremadura, 1489?), died at Lima on 25 October 1575.
He studied at Coria, Seville, and Valladolid; in 1529 he landed with a group of confrères in Tierra Firme (present-day Colombia), and with them founded S. Marta and Cartagena, making them centres of apostolic activity. After five years he returned to Spain to obtain from the government laws in favour of the Indians. He was still in his homeland when, at the end of 1537, he was designated to succeed the first bishop of Cartagena, Tommaso de(l) Toro.
Consecrated at Valladolid the following year, he reached his see and immediately set about building the Cathedral. Shortly thereafter he was transferred to the new see of Lima, of which he took possession in 1543. In 1546 the diocese of Lima was elevated to a metropolitan see, and its incumbent received the archiepiscopal pallium soon thereafter. During the 32 years he spent in Lima, the prelate’s life was often difficult because of the disturbances provoked by the greed of the conquistadors and by his tenacious defence of the indigenous peoples, which earned him the title of “protector of the Indians.” He had the new cathedral and various churches erected, and the seminary built. He founded the hospital of S. Anna (1549), where he lavished his charity and wished to be buried. He worked assiduously for the establishment of the University (1553). Lima, as a sign of gratitude towards this great benefactor of the Church and of civilization, dedicated a hospital to him in 1920.