LOAYSA, JERÓNIMO de. - Dominican, first bishop and archbishop of Lima (Peru), b. in Trujillo (Estremadura, 1489?), d. in Lima on 25 Oct. 1575.
He studied at Coria, Seville and Valladolid; in 1529 he disembarked with a group of fellow friars in Tierra Firme (present-day Colombia), and with them founded and made the centre of their apostolate San Marta and Cartagena. After five years he returned to Spain to obtain legal protections for the Indians from the government. He was still in his homeland when, at the end of 1537, he was designated to succeed the first bishop of Cartagena, Tomás de Toro.
Consecrated at Valladolid the following year, he reached his see and immediately set to work on the construction of the cathedral. Soon after, 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 soon received the archiepiscopal pallium. During the 32 years he spent in Lima, the prelate often led a difficult life because of the disorders caused by the greed of the conquistadors and 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 built, and the seminary constructed. He founded the hospital of St Anne (1549), where he lavished his charity and wished to be buried. He worked greatly for the establishment of the university (1553). In gratitude to this great benefactor of the Church and civilisation, Lima dedicated a hospital to him in 1920.