Juan de Prado, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, was executed in Marrakesh, Morocco, on May 24, 1679, on the orders of Sultan Moulay Ismail. He was killed for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
De Prado had traveled to Morocco with other friars in an attempt to minister to Christian slaves and encourage conversions. His activities were seen as a challenge to the Sultan's authority and Islamic law.
In recognition of his martyrdom, Pope Benedict XIII beatified Juan de Prado on May 14, 1728. His feast day is celebrated on May 24.
Historical accounts note that his death was part of a period of tension between the Moroccan sultanate and European Christian powers. The beatification places him among the recognized martyrs of the Catholic Church.
