Saint Peter Claver, S.J. (1580–1654), was a Spanish Jesuit priest and missionary who is remembered for his extraordinary compassion and dedication to ministering to enslaved Africans arriving in South America during the 17th century. He is honored by the Church for his tireless work defending the dignity of every human life.

Born in Verdu, Catalonia (Spain), Peter Claver joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) and was later sent to the port city of Cartagena (present-day Colombia)—a key hub in the transatlantic slave trade. There, he vowed to become “the slave of the Negroes forever.” For over 40 years, he met slave ships at the docks, boarding them immediately upon arrival to bring food, medicine, and comfort, even before the captives were unloaded.

He baptized an estimated 300,000 individuals, offering not only the Sacraments, but also advocacy, care, and dignity to those who were treated as less than human by society. He learned African languages to communicate more effectively, and his ministry extended to visiting plantations to care for those who were abused or neglected.

In his 1980 apostolic letter, Pope John Paul II called Saint Peter Claver a “hero of Christian charity” and emphasized that his life reflected “a burning love that knew no bounds of race or class.”

Saint Peter Claver died in 1654 after a long illness, often neglected by those around him in his final years. Yet the Church would later recognize his heroic sanctity. He was canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII, who also named him the Patron of all Catholic missions among African people.

Feast Day: September 9
Patron Saint of: Missions to African people, slaves, human rights, and racial justice

St. Peter Claver, who dedicated yourself to the salvation and welfare of the oppressed and enslaved,
you saw Christ in the least of His brethren and spent your life in service and love.
Obtain for us, we pray, the grace to follow your example of mercy, to uphold the dignity of all people,
and to speak out against injustice.
Pray for us, that we may love as Christ loved.
Amen.