Editing John of the Cross (section)

=== Height of Carmelite tensions ===
The years 1575–77 saw a great increase in tensions among Spanish Carmelite friars over the reforms of Teresa and John. Since 1566 the reforms had been overseen by [[canonical visitation|Canonical Visitors]] from the [[Dominican Order]], with one appointed to Castile and a second to [[Andalusia]]. The Visitors had substantial powers: they could move members of religious communities from one house to another or from one [[ecclesiastical province|province]] to the next. They could assist [[religious superior]]s in the discharge of their office, and could delegate superiors between the Dominican or Carmelite orders. In Castile, the Visitor was Pedro Fernández, who prudently balanced the interests of the Discalced Carmelites with those of the nuns and friars who did not desire reform.<ref>He is possibly the same Pedro Fernández who became the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Ávila#Leadership|Bishop of Ávila]] in 1581. He who appointed Teresa as prioress in Ávila in 1571, while also maintaining good relations with the Carmelite [[provincial superior|Prior Provincial]] of Castile.</ref>

In Andalusia to the south, the Visitor was Francisco Vargas, and tensions rose due to his clear preference for the Discalced friars. Vargas asked them to make foundations in various cities, in contradiction to the express orders from the Carmelite [[Superior general|Prior General]] to curb expansion in Andalusia. As a result, a [[General Chapter]] of the Carmelite Order was convened at [[Piacenza]] in Italy in May 1576, out of concern that events in Spain were getting out of hand. It concluded by ordering the total suppression of the Discalced houses.<ref>Kavanaugh (1991) states that this was all the Discalced houses founded in Andalusia. E. Allison Peers, ''Complete Works'', Vol. I, p. xxvii (1943) states that this was all the Discalced monasteries but two.</ref>

That measure was not immediately enforced. [[Philip II of Spain|King Philip II of Spain]] was supportive of Teresa's reforms, and so was not immediately willing to grant the necessary permission to enforce the ordinance. The Discalced friars also found support from the papal [[nuncio]] to Spain, {{Interlanguage link multi|Nicolò Ormaneto|it}}, [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Padua|Bishop of Padua]], who still had ultimate power to visit and reform religious orders. When asked by the Discalced friars to intervene, Nuncio Ormaneto replaced Vargas as Visitor of the Carmelites in Andalusia with [[Jerónimo Gracián]], a priest from the [[University of Alcalá]], who was in fact a Discalced Carmelite friar himself.<ref name="Kavanaugh" /> The nuncio's protection helped John avoid problems for a time. In January 1576, John was detained in Medina del Campo by traditional Carmelite friars, but through the nuncio's intervention, he was soon released.<ref name="Kavanaugh" /> When Ormaneto died on 18 June 1577, John was left without protection, and the friars opposing his reforms regained the upper hand.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}