The Spanish have always been fervent Catholics, when they were exploring, they always had a number of priests and friars on board their ships wherever they went. Every Central and South America country (save Brazil) was settled by Spanish Catholics and is Catholic to this day. The southern United States also was settled by Catholics, and still is predominately Catholic. The Catholics, unlike the protestants, actually talked to and converted the Indians, which is why there are so many Native Americans still in the south and western United States, and almost none in the Northeast which was settled by protestants and Puritans who basically wiped out all the Indians tribes they found.
Missions
Spanish colonists traveled to New Spain for various reasons, including seeking wealth, land, and opportunities for social advancement. They were also motivated by a desire to spread Christianity and convert indigenous populations to Catholicism.
Spain built missions in the early Americas to protect Spanish territory and convert the natives to Christianity (specifically Catholicism).
A missionary in any context would be a person who goes around spreading an organised religion by preaching. In the context of Spanish history, the missionaries were Catholic Christian priests who were sent to the Spanish colonies in the Americas to convert the indigenous pagans to Catholicism.
Spain hoped to spread Catholicism in its American colonies. The Spanish Crown viewed the spread of Catholicism as a way to unify and control its colonies, as well as to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity. Missionaries, such as the Franciscans and Jesuits, played a key role in spreading Catholicism in the Americas.
Convert the Indians to Catholicism
missionarys
To protect the borderlands, to convert to Catholicism, and to make settlements.
Anyone who wants to can convert to Catholicism.
The colonizing power tried to convert Indians to Roman Catholicism.
the spanish armada
Spain sent expeditions to the Americas primarily to expand its territorial holdings and to find new trade routes that would increase its wealth and power. Additionally, Spain sought to spread Christianity and convert indigenous populations to Catholicism.