Francisco de Toral

Most Reverend
Francisco de Toral
Bishop of Yucatán
Church Catholic Church
Diocese Diocese of Yucatán
Predecessor None
Successor Diego de Landa
Orders
Consecration May 24, 1562
by Sancho Díaz de Trujillo
Personal details
Born 1502
Died April 20, 1571 (age 69)
Nationality Spanish


Francisco de Toral (1502–1571) was a Franciscan missionary in New Spain, and the first Bishop of Yucatán.[1][2]

Biography

Francisco de Toral was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor.[1] On November 19, 1561, Francisco de Toral was appointed by Pope Pius IV the first bishop of the Diocese of Yucatán and consecrated bishop on May 24, 1562 by Sancho Díaz de Trujillo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Plasencia with Fernando de Villagómez, Bishop of the Diocese of Tlaxcala (Puebla de los Angeles), and Juan de Vaca, Bishop of the Diocese of Panamá, as Co-Consecrators.[1]

As part of his effort to Christianize the Indians of New Spain, Toral learned to speak the Nahuatl and Popoloca languages, and compiled a dictionary and grammar of the latter. He also charged Bernardino de Sahagún with the creation of the Historia General de las Cosas de Nueva España. In Yucatán he led an investigation into the alleged abuses of the Maya by Diego de Landa, employing Gaspar Antonio Chi as his interpreter; Landa would eventually be acquitted, and follow Toral as Bishop of Yucatán. He claimed that crosses were being burned, and human sacrifices were made in church. In the end, Mayans were considered innocent, based on the lack of proof. Francisco de Toral served as Bishop of Yucatán until his death on April 20, 1571.[1]

References

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Diego de Estremera
Guardian of Tecamachalco
1548–1550
Succeeded by
Juan de Vesar
Preceded by
Buenaventura de Salinas
Guardian of Tecamachalco
1556–1557
Succeeded by
Alonso de Molina
Preceded by
Francisco de Bustamante
Provincial of the Province of the Holy Gospel
1558–1561
Succeeded by
Francisco de Bustamante
New diocese Bishop of Yucatán
1561–1571
Succeeded by
Diego de Landa


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