Novo-Hispanic school. Possibly Puebla. Mexico. Late seventeenth century. “Viceroy Juan de Palafox y Mendoza next to Saint Paul indoctrinating the Indigenous people.” Oil on canvas. 79 x 58 cm.   The figure of Juan de Palafox y Mendoza is portrayed in an attitude of blessing indigenous people through the intercession of Saint Paul. The indigenous people are represented with their typical attire, making it iconographically very attractive.  This is also the only painting that we are aware of in which the figure of Palafox appears next to indigenous people in the act of converting them to Christianity. We can define Juan de Palafox y Mendoza as one of the most important characters of the Viceroyalty of New America. He held the positions of Viceroy, bishop, Royal Visitor as Visitor of the ministers and Courts of New Spain, judge of residence of two viceroys, governor and Captain General, president of the Civil and Criminal Royal Court, Visitor of the University of Mexico and of the Court of Accounts. He gathered more civil titles than any other person had ever held before in Latin America. The theological and pastoral dimension of the bishop's work, apart from his political career, which have not received the attention they deserve, are clearly demonstrated in this painting. Palafox, above all, was a great reformer in a time not at all favorable for reformers and he won several battles in his crusade for reform, some as important as his own appointment as viceroy. He left a legacy of great pastoral and cultural work, particularly in Puebla de los Angeles as creator and promoter of the Palafoxiana Library, the Cathedral of Puebla de los Angeles, the Royal Colleges of St. Peter and St. John, among other endeavors. All this led to his beatification in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.