PÉREZ, ANTONIO. - Benedictine writer and theologian, archbishop, b. at S. Domenico di Silos on 2 May 1559, d. at Madrid on 1 May 1637. Abbot of S. Vincenzo di Salamanca until 1607, he was general of the Congregation of Valladolid for three years. On two occasions he was abbot of S. Martino di Madrid, from 1617 to 1621 and from 1625 to 1627.
By reason of his learning he enjoyed the esteem of Filippo IV, who appointed him his theologian and qualificator of the Supreme Inquisition. He was appointed bishop, first of Santa Fé, a see he refused because of his advanced age, then of Urgel, which he governed for six years, subsequently passing to Lérida; in 1634 he became archbishop of Tarragona, and in 1637 was transferred to the diocese of Avila, of which he was unable to take possession because of his ensuing death.
He left theological and historical works of great value: Pentateuchus fidei, sive de Ecclesia, de Conciliis, de Scriptura sacra, de Traditionibus sacris, de Romano Pontifice (Madrid 1620); Commentaria in Regulam t. Patris Benedicti (Lione 1625; 2nd ed. Barcellona 1632); Authentica sanctorum quatuor Evangelistarum fides, adversus omnes repugnantes, haereticos ethnicasque philosophus (Lione 1626); analogous writings also on the Apostolic Epistles and on Acts.