Pedro Ponce de León (bishop of Plasencia) facts for kids
Pedro Ponce de León (born 1510 – died 1573) was an important Spanish bishop. He served as a bishop in two different cities: Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo from 1550 to 1560, and then Bishop of Plasencia from 1560 until his death in 1573.
His Life and Work
Pedro Ponce de León was born in a city called Córdoba, Andalusia in Spain in the year 1510. He studied at the University of Salamanca, which was a famous school. After his studies, he became a priest.
In 1546, a powerful ruler named Charles I of Spain chose Pedro Ponce de León to join an important group called the Supreme Council of the Spanish Inquisition. This group was part of the church and helped to make sure people followed religious rules.
Becoming a Bishop
On June 27, 1550, during the time of Pope Julius III, Pedro Ponce de León became the Bishop of Ciudad Rodrigo. A bishop is a high-ranking leader in the Christian church. Later, on January 26, 1560, he moved to become the Bishop of Plasencia. This happened when Pope Pius IV was the Pope.
He also took part in a very important meeting called the Council of Trent. This was a big gathering of church leaders who discussed and made decisions about the Catholic Church.
In December 1572, he was chosen to be the Grand Inquisitor of Spain. This was a very powerful position, but sadly, he died in 1573 before he could officially start this new role.
A Patron of Learning
Pedro Ponce de León was known for supporting new church buildings and for encouraging education. He loved books and collected a very large library. His collection of books was so impressive that it caught the attention of Philip II of Spain, who was the king at the time. Many of these books later became part of the famous Biblioteca Laurentina library, which is located in El Escorial.
Pedro Ponce de León passed away in Jaraicejo in 1573.
