Final answer:
Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish noble, founded the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits, which was an influential Catholic missionary order during the Catholic Reformation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits, was founded by the Spanish noble Ignatius of Loyola. Formed during the Catholic Reformation, the Jesuits focused on educating young Catholic men, converting non-Christians to Roman Catholicism, and serving as advisers to Catholic rulers.
Distinguished from other religious orders, the Jesuits played a crucial role in global missionary work, particularly in places such as New France (Canada), China, Japan, and throughout the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the Americas. Their educational work, cultural adaptation strategies, and reports from missions (like the Jesuit Relations) provide valuable historical insights into the era's religious and cultural exchanges.