Diego Alvarez (theologian)

Diego Álvarez (Latin: Didacus Alvarez; c. 1555 – 1632) was a Spanish theologian who opposed Molinism.

[1] He entered the Dominican Order in his native city, and taught theology for twenty years in the Spanish cities of Burgos, Trianos, Plasencia, and Valladolid, and for ten years (1596-1606) at the Dominican convent of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, in Rome.

[2] Shortly after his arrival in Rome (7 November 1596) he presented to Pope Clement VIII a memorial requesting him to examine the work Concordia liberi Arbitrii, by Luis de Molina, S.J., which, upon its publication in 1588, had given rise to bitter controversy, known as Molinism, on the extent of knowledge of God in the Divine providence.

Before the Congregation (Congregatio de Auxiliis), appointed by the Pope to settle the dispute, he defended the Thomistic doctrines of grace, predestination, etc., alone for three years, and, thereafter, conjointly with his confrere Tomas de Lemos, to whom he gave the first place, until the suspension of the Congregation (1606).

[1] The episcopal consecration followed on 1 April in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva by the hands of Girolamo Bernerio.