What was the primary mission of Jesuit missionaries during the Counter-Reformation?

The primary mission of Jesuit missionaries during the Counter-Reformation was to evangelize non-Christians and re-convert Protestants. The Society of Jesus, founded by Ignatius of Loyola in 1534, emerged as a response to the Protestant Reformation with a strong commitment to reinforcing Catholic doctrine and expanding the faith. Jesuits actively engaged in missionary work across the world, traveling to Asia, Africa, and the Americas, aiming to convert indigenous populations to Catholicism.

Additionally, they sought to reclaim Protestants who had turned away from the Catholic Church, using their educational and missionary efforts to strengthen faith and resolve theological disputes. Their approach included a deep commitment to education and forming lasting relationships with local communities, which allowed them to address doubts about Catholicism while promoting its teachings effectively.

The other options, while related to aspects of the Catholic Church’s activities during this period, do not capture the pivotal goal of the Jesuits, which was focused on conversion and re-conversion. Establishing monastic communities and building churches may have occurred, but they were not the central objective of Jesuit missions. Similarly, training educators was part of their broader educational mission, but not the primary focus during the Counter-Reformation.