Joaquín Royo Pérez was an 18th-century Spanish Dominican friar and missionary who served the Catholic Church in China. Born in Hinojosa de Jarque in 1691, he joined his religious order in Valencia before traveling to the Philippines in 1712. After his ordination in 1715, he dedicated his life to missionary work across various regions, including Macao, Fu'an, and several provinces. He eventually served as a vicar provincial in Fujian before facing persecution for his faith.
Life and ministry
After traveling to the Philippines, Royo Pérez was sent to China, where he worked in several areas such as Xiamen and Quanzhou. He also conducted missions in Jiangxi and Zhejiang, provinces that had lacked western missionaries for many years. During times of intense persecution, he continued his religious duties in secret. His efforts eventually led to his arrest by local authorities in 1746, resulting in his death by suffocation in 1748.
Veneration
He is recognized as a saint in the Catholic Church. Following his death, he was beatified by Pope Leo XIII in 1893. He was later canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000, alongside other Chinese martyrs. His feast days are observed on July 9 and October 28.