Diego Laynez

Who was Diego Laynez?

Diego Laynez, born in 1512 and died the 19 January 1565, was a Spanish Jesuit priest and theologian, and the 2nd Superior General of the Society of Jesus.

Diego Laynez was born in Almazán in Castile. Of Jewish ancestry, he was a fourth generation Catholic. He graduated from the University of Alcalá, and then continued his studies in Paris, where he came under the influence of Ignatius of Loyola. He was one of the seven men who, with Loyola, formed the original group of Friends in the Lord, later Society of Jesus, taking, in the Montmartre church, the vows of personal poverty and chastity in the footsteps of Christ, and committing themselves to going to Jerusalem.

Because of unfavourable circumstances the pilgrimage to Jerusalem fell through, and Laynez with Loyola and the other Friends in the Lord offered their services to the Pope. After the Order had been definitely established Laynez, among other missions visited Germany. Laynez was a papal theologian during each of the three periods of the Council of Trent. At one point he was also professor of scholastic theology at La Sapienza.