Some attempted, usually unsuccessfully, to replace Catholic missions with those of lay people. On the other hand those apostolic men Francis Xavier and John de Brito contributed not only to the spiritual salvation of souls, but also to the greater expansion of the fortunes of Portugal.
Siquidem, dum laicorum hominum missiones, ut aiunt, quas nonnulli in catholicarum Missionum locum subdere conati sunt, paene nullos edidere fructus, at contra apostolici illi viri, ut Franciscus Xaverius, ut Ioannes de Brito, non modo ad spiritualem animarum salutem, sed ad auctiorem etiam Lusitaniae fortunam tantopere contulerunt.vatican.va vatican.va