The main goal of the Jesuits, formally known as the Society of Jesus, was to spread the Catholic faith and counter the Protestant Reformation. Founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1540, the Jesuits aimed to educate people, promote missionary work, and engage in intellectual and cultural activities to strengthen the Catholic Church.
They focused on three primary areas:
- Education: The Jesuits established schools and universities to educate the youth and train future leaders in the Catholic faith.
- Missionary Work: They sent missionaries to various parts of the world, including Asia, Africa, and the Americas, to convert people to Catholicism.
- Intellectual Engagement: The Jesuits engaged in scholarly activities, including theology, science, and the arts, to defend and promote Catholic doctrine.
Through these efforts, the Jesuits played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation and the global spread of Catholicism.