What was the spanish friars point of view about the Indians and the mission?

Spanish friars generally viewed the Indigenous peoples as souls in need of salvation through Christianity. They believed that converting the Indians to Catholicism was a moral duty, often justifying their missions as a means to civilize and educate the native populations. However, their perspective was often paternalistic, seeing the Indigenous people as inferior and in need of guidance. This led to a complex relationship where conversion was sometimes accompanied by cultural suppression and exploitation.