011r Catholic Heritage in T ezas
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bishop-elect, to watch over the welfare of the natives and to see that the regulations concerning the treatment that was to be accorded to the Indians were strictly observed. He was ordered to prevent the waging of unjust and unfair wars against the natives and to try to win their friendship and good will by kindness and love, so as to incline them, by these gentle means, to their conversion and dispose them to receive instruction in the faith. Of Father Fray Juan Suarez there is little known. He came from the Province of San Gabriel in Spain. Shortly after his arrival in Mexico, in 1524, he became Guardian of the Monastery of Huexotzingo, one of the first four founded by the twelve Franciscans. Although he was at this post only a short time, the Indians became greatly attached to him and remembered his great zeal and love many years after he had gone. It was from here that he went to Spain to join the expedition of Narvaez, moved by his ardent desire to spread the faith to unknown and unexplored regions. The king, realizing that the good friar would not be able to dispose of his perquisites as bishop of the new district until he was confirmed and consecrated in his office, authorized him to use the tithes and other revenues of the new land for the erection of a church and a house for his residence, as well as for any other purpose he might see fit, until the Pope officially approved his appointment. 10 There is little doubt, therefore, that Fray Juan Suarez has the honor and distinction of having been the first bishop-elect to a diocese which included a large portion of the present United States. That he was never confirmed or consecrated and that the proposed diocese was never formally erected carinot deprive him of the honor, because the failure was due to the abandonment of the project as a result of the unfortunate fate of the Narvaez expedition. 10 Herrera, HiJtoria, Dec. iv, Lib. iv, Cap. iii; Lib. iv, Dec. ii, Cap. iv; Torque- mada, Afo11arquia Indiana, Ill, 437 (first edition) ; Mendieta, Historia Eclesiastica lfldiana, 397, 617; Barcia, Ensayo Cronologico, Ano XXVII . There has been some question as to the appointment of Fray Suarez as bishop of the new district. Barcia says he was bishop, but Herrera, who had access to original sources and who is very careful to state his facts correctly, clearly says that he was presented as bishop- elect by the king; that the king granted him the right to use certain revenues until he was officially approved by the Holy Father; and that this special privilege was to be enjoyed until his confirmation and consecration. The fact that Shea could find no trace of the erection of any See of Rio de las Palmas is no proof that Fray Juan Suarez was not presented in 1526 as bishop-elect of the new jurisdiction created in that year. Subsequent events made the erection of this See unnecessary. Shea, T lte CatAolil; C/rurcl,, p. 111, note.
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