Born in 1645 in the Tyrol region of northern Italy, Kino studied in Germany with the Jesuits and was ordained to the priesthood in 1677. It was in Germany that he fell terribly ill and promised to embark on the American missions if he received healing through the intercession of St. Francis Xavier. When he indeed recovered, he headed to New Spain, arriving in the Americas at the age of 36, according to the Kino Heritage society.
In the Americas, Kino quickly earned his nickname "Padre on horseback" as he transversed Mexico and the southeastern U.S., baptizing over 4,000 natives. He zealously defended the native populations from European powers, who exploited the indigenous people in silver mines. On one occasion, he rode 1,500 miles in one week from his mission headquarters to Mexico City to advocate for the oppressed native populations to the highest Spanish officials.
Due to his work in service of oppressed populations, Olmsted said that Kino "remains a wonderful example of the mission of the Church lived in solidarity with the poor and marginalized."
"As a faithful member of the Society of Jesus and a missionary priest, Padre Kino was a tireless advocate for the native peoples of the Southwest. He devoted tremendous energy to meeting their spiritual and temporal needs, founding 21 missions and numerous native-run rancheros, and willingly sharing in the poverty and hardships of those he served," Olmsted said.
Not only were Kino's expeditions in search of souls, but the missionary priest also explored the region with a view to the natural sciences. Kino mapped regions of the American south-east previously unknown to civilization, creating the definitive maps for the region for more than 150 years after his death.
Kino taught the native populations agricultural and ranching techniques, equipping them with a stable food supply and schools for the local children.