Afonso Mendes was born in Santo Aleixo, a village in the Portuguese municipality of Moura, in 1579. Raised on the border, Afonso was still young when he joined the Society of Jesus.

Afonso Mendes was born in Santo Aleixo, a village in the Portuguese municipality of Moura, in 1579. Raised on the border, Afonso was still young when he joined the Society of Jesus.