When historians investigate the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Spain’s and Portugal’s empire-building processes, they often notice that:
Church leaders and country leaders worked together because doing so offered mutual benefits for each of them.
This collaboration was characterized by the Church providing religious justification for colonialism, while the empires offered resources and protection to the Church's missions. The Church played a central role in the colonization efforts, as it was involved in the conversion of indigenous peoples and the establishment of religious institutions in the colonies. This partnership allowed both the state and the Church to expand their influence and achieve their respective goals.