| Honorific Prefix: | Father |
| Ignatius of Jesus | |
| Native Name: | Ignàzio di Gesù |
| Native Name Lang: | it |
| Birth Date: | 1596 |
| Birth Place: | Sorbolongo, Pesaro |
| Death Date: | 21 February 1667 |
| Death Place: | Rome |
| Years Active: | 1629–1664 |
| Occupation: | Friar and missionary |
| Known For: | Writings on Mandaeism and the Persian language |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Church: | Roman Catholic Church |
| Ordained: | 27 February 1623 |
Ignatius of Jesus (it|'''Ignàzio di Gesù''', born Carlo Leonelli; 1596, Sorbolongo, Pesaro – 21 February 1667, Rome) was an Italian Roman Catholic friar of the Order of the Discalced Carmelites who served as a missionary in Persia, Basra, and Lebanon for 35 years.[1] He is best known for writing the first Western scholarly work on Mandaeism, Narratio originis, rituum, & errorum christianorum Sancti Ioannis ("Narration of the Origin, the Rituals, and the Errors of the Christians of St. John") (1652).[2]
1596, Carlo Leonelli was born as the fifth of sixth siblings to a semi-noble family in Sorbolongo.
He joined the Discalced Carmelites (also known as the "Barefoot" Carmelites)[3] and took his vows on 27 February 1623, receiving the name of Ignatius of Jesus.
He spent 35 years from 1629 to 1664 as a missionary in the Middle East in the following locations.[4]
He died in Rome on 21 February 1667.[4]
Ignatius of Jesus is best known for his 1652 treatise on Mandaeism, Narratio originis, rituum, & errorum christianorum Sancti Ioannis ("Narration of the Origin, the Rituals, and the Errors of the Christians of St. John").[5]
His other works include Grammatica linguae persicae (1661),[6] a grammar of the Persian language.[1]