St. Peter Claver (1581–1654), known as the “Apostle to the Slaves,” is a remarkable figure in Catholic hagiography, celebrated for his heroic work among enslaved Africans in the New World. Born in Verdú, Catalonia, Spain, he entered the Jesuit order and studied philosophy and theology. Deeply moved by the writings of St. Alphonsus Rodríguez, his spiritual guide, Peter felt called to serve as a missionary, particularly among the suffering and oppressed.
In 1610, St. Peter Claver arrived in Cartagena, a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade in modern-day Colombia. Cartagena was infamous for its role as a port where enslaved Africans, captured from their homelands, were brought to be sold to colonizers. Upon witnessing the horrific conditions in which the slaves arrived—many of them sick, malnourished, and terrified—Claver dedicated his life to serving their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
For more than forty years, St. Peter Claver ministered to these enslaved people. He greeted the incoming slave ships with food, water, and medical care, offering immediate relief to those who were often suffering from disease and exhaustion. He did not stop there; he made it his mission to provide them with catechesis and the sacraments. Peter Claver would baptize tens of thousands of slaves, considering himself their servant, often calling himself “the slave of the slaves forever.”
In addition to his care for the enslaved, St. Peter Claver advocated for their humane treatment, confronting slave traders and colonists to raise awareness about their dignity and rights. His zeal for justice, however, was not always welcomed by the colonial powers, many of whom profited from the slave trade.
Claver’s work extended beyond the docks. He would visit the slaves on plantations, offering ongoing pastoral care. His efforts also extended to those suffering from illness in hospitals, and he tended to anyone marginalized by society, including prisoners and the poor.
St. Peter Claver died on September 8, 1654, after a long illness. He was canonized in 1888 by Pope Leo XIII and declared the patron saint of African missions and interracial justice. His feast day is celebrated on September 9. His life remains a powerful witness to Christian charity, courage, and the intrinsic dignity of every human person.