Fast forward 5 centuries, it turns out they were in fact pretty successful as South America central Africa are the places where Catholicism is the most active today, far more than in Europe.
The Christian Brothers missions were hell holes across the undeveloped regions.
* https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/mar/02/child-migran...
* https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/case-studies/ca...
