St. Peter Claver, Jesuit, Apostle of Slaves

St. Peter Claver was a Jesuit priest who dedicated his life to serving and ministering to enslaved Africans in the port city of Cartagena, Colombia, in the 17th century. Born in 1580 in Verdu, Spain, he entered the Jesuit order in 1602 and was sent as a missionary to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. In Cartagena, he welcomed and cared for countless enslaved people, baptizing over 300,000 during his lifetime. He is venerated as the "Apostle of the Slaves" for his tireless efforts to alleviate the suffering of those forced into slavery. Claver died in 1654 and was canonized in 1888. He is the patron saint of enslaved people, social workers, and the Republic of Colombia.