JUAN DE RIBERA, Blessed. — Spanish archbishop, b. in Seville on 20 March 1532 to Perafan de R., viceroy of Catalonia and of Naples, d. in Valencia on 6 January 1611.
He studied philosophy, theology and canon law at Salamanca, where he later became a professor. In 1562, elected bishop of Badajoz, he worked for the application of the decrees of the Council of Trent. Promoted in 1568 to patriarch of Antioch and archbishop of Valencia, he had to face the Morisco unrest. At first he attempted in vain to reconcile and convert them, even establishing colleges for the education of the young; then he requested and supported the royal decree for the expulsion of the Moriscos (1609). Philip III appointed him viceroy and captain general of Valencia. For the proper governance of the diocese, he held seven synods, built churches and founded, for the education of the clergy, the Corpus Christi College, endowing its Library with precious codices and rare books; numerous of his manuscripts are preserved. He was declared blessed by Pius VI on 18 September 1796.