Father Antônio Vieira

Antônio Vieira (Lisbon, February 6, 1608 — Salvador, July 18, 1697), better known as Father Antônio Vieira, was a Portuguese religious, philosopher, writer and orator of the Society of Jesus. A prominent character in the 17th century, he was a missionary in Brazilian lands. He defended the rights of indigenous peoples and fought their exploitation and enslavement. He was a great orator and his sermons are of great importance in Brazilian and Portuguese baroque.