Confessor; apostle of the Negroes; born Verdu, Catalonia, 1580; died Cartagena, South America, 1654. After graduating from the university of Barcelona, he became a Jesuit, 1601, and by the advice of Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez volunteered for the South American mission. Landing at Cartagena, in 1610, he was ordained there, 1616, and devoted his remaining days to alleviating the spiritual and bodily miseries of the African slaves, 300,000 of whom he baptized. Patron of the Negro missions. Represented surrounded by Negroes. Canonized, 1888. Feast, September 9,.