Pedro Moya de Contreras, the archbishop of Mexico, convoked the council in February 1584; it officially opened on January 20, 1585,[1] and ran until November of the same year.
[2] Hernando Ortiz de Hinojosa, the vicar-general of Mexico, submitted a series of dubia to the council regarding the repartimiento system of indigenous labor.
[2] Ultimately, the council passed a somewhat qualified series of resolutions, condemning the repartimientos "in the manner in which they are now carried out" and calling for reforms from the governor.
[3] It banned a number of practices which were believed to lead to idolatry, including certain popular festivals, as well as the depiction of animals, demons, or stars alongside saints in sacred images.
[4] It elaborated on an existing decree that candidates for baptism should have "a good understanding of Christian doctrine", laying out requirements that they should learn several prayers and the Ten Commandments in their native language.