Who were the catholic missionaries and why did they come to the new world?

Catholic missionaries were representatives of the Catholic Church, including groups like the Jesuits, Franciscans, and Dominicans, who came to the New World during the Age of Exploration. Their primary aim was to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity, spread the Catholic faith, and establish missions to provide education and social services. They also sought to counteract the influence of Protestantism and expand European colonial power through religious conversion. Additionally, missionaries often played roles in cultural exchanges and the documentation of Indigenous languages and customs.