First Jesuits - Society of Jesus 1534-1572 - and Jews: History and Demise of Taboo in Light of Changes by Second Vatican Council

Abstract

The article points out the importance of Jewish historiography and of the Vatican Council II, which made it possible to bring to light the status of Jewish converts to Catholicism on the Iberian Peninsula in the Early Modern Age. It focuses on the crucial importance of these converts for the beginnings of the Society of Jesus and follows the circumstances and causes of their exclusion and discrimination at the end of the 16th century.

Keywords

• Council Vatican II
• Jews
• Christians
• Catholic Church
• historiography
• converts
• religious racism
• the Jesuit Order
• Ignatius of Loyola
• reform
• Jesuits
• discrimination
• Iberian peninsula, early modern age