During the colonial period in Latin America, the Peninsulares, who were Spanish-born individuals, did hold high positions in the Catholic Church. These positions allowed them significant influence and power in the region. As European conquistadors and settlers, the Peninsulares brought Catholicism with them and established a strong connection between the Catholic Church and Spanish colonial rule. They often had access to top ecclesiastical positions within the Church, such as bishops and archbishops, as well as other influential roles like administrators and inquisitors. This privileged position within the Catholic Church was one of the ways that the Peninsulares maintained their dominance and control over the colonial territories.
