Turrianus facts for kids

Francisco Torres (born around 1509 – died November 21, 1584) was a Spanish scholar and writer. He was also a Jesuit, which is a member of a religious group in the Catholic Church. People sometimes called him Turrianus. He was known for his deep knowledge of ancient Greek and for writing many arguments against Protestant ideas.

Early Life and Education

Francisco Torres was born in a place called Herrera de Pisuerga in Palencia. His uncle, Dr. Torres, was an important religious leader, the Bishop of the Canaries. Francisco studied at the famous Salamanca University. Later, he lived in Rome with important church leaders like Giovanni Salviati and Seripando.

Important Work and Beliefs

In 1562, Pope Pius IV sent Francisco Torres to the Council of Trent. This was a very important meeting where Catholic leaders discussed and decided on many church rules and beliefs.

On January 8, 1567, he officially became a Jesuit. He taught at the Roman College, a well-known school in Rome. He also helped revise the Sixtine Vulgate, which was an important Latin version of the Bible. He worked with other famous scholars like Stanislaus Hosius and Baronius.

People at the time called him helluo librorum, which means "glutton of books." This was because he could examine many books in libraries incredibly fast! In his later years, Francisco Torres had many written debates with a French Protestant writer named Antoine de la Roche Chandieu. He stayed in Rome until he passed away.

Francisco Torres strongly supported several Catholic beliefs. He defended the idea of the Immaculate Conception, which is a belief about Mary, the mother of Jesus. He also believed the Pope had authority over church councils. He argued that bishops received their authority directly from God. He supported the practice of lay people receiving only bread (not wine) during Communion.

He also believed that certain ancient church rules, like the Apostolic Canons and the Pseudo-Isidorian decretals, were real and important. He worked hard to bring back a special church holiday called the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, which had been stopped by Pope Pius V.

Writings and Legacy

Francisco Torres wrote more than seventy books. Most of these books were arguments against Protestant ideas. He also translated many works from ancient Greek writers, especially those by early Christian leaders known as the Church Fathers. He found many of these old writings hidden in libraries.

Some people had different opinions about his work. A scholar named David Blondel thought Francisco Torres didn't always judge things carefully enough. Another person, Gérónimo Nadàl, said he was too harsh when writing about Protestants.

See also

In Spanish: Francisco Torres (jesuita) para niños