San Xavier del Bac, known as the "White Dove of the Desert, is a Catholic Church founded by a Jesuit priest in 1692 to convert the local Native Americans to Christianity. In the late 1760's, Spain, distrustful of the secular interests of the Jesuits, banned them from all Spanish lands. From this time to the present day, San Xavier has been led by the Franciscans. The Church, built from 1783-1797 is a beautiful blend of Moorish, Byzantine, and late Mexican Renaissance architecture and is still a fully functioning parish church.