St. Francis Borgia was a Jesuit leader of the Counter-Reformation. He was also the great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI and the son of the duke of Gandia, Spain, a Spanish Borgia. Educated by an uncle, the Archbishop of Saragossa, he became a member of the court of Emperor Charles V. In 1529, he married Elanor de Castro. He subsequently served as a high-ranking Spanish official and became the duke of Gandia in 1543. Three years later, following the death of his wife, Francis became a Jesuit, giving his title and estates to his son, Charles. He was ordained in 1551 and was a friend and adviser of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

In 1554, Francis became the superior of the Jesuits in Spain. He founded monasteries, colleges, and charitable institutions and was responsible for the start of the Gregorian University for Sant’ Andrea and the Gesu in Rome.

Francis also started the New World Jesuit missions and province of the order in Poland. After a trip through Spain with Cardinal Bonelli in 1572, Francis returned to Rome and died there on September 30. He is sometimes called “the Second Founder of the Jesuits.” He also edited the order’s rules and spiritual exercises.