How did Catholicism reach Panama, or Central America?

I'm doing a paper on religion in Panama, and the largest religion is Catholicism. I'm not really wanting you to do this paper for me, haha, I was just wondering if any of you had any good links or sources for me, mostly about how the Catholic religion came to Panama. I know it has something to do with the Spaniards and the Spanish inquisition, but I'm looking for a little more than that, so if you guys know of any good sites, that'd be great. It doesn't have to be about Panama specifically, just Central America or Latin America in general. Either way, I'm just trying to find out about it, and I can't find any good, credible sources here.

Thanks, guys!

The explorers brought Catholicism with them.
Everyone was converted at the barrel of a rifle.
It's a Catholic thing.

Alright, i won't be a huge help because what i know is loose. But in the 16th ? century the dastardly Spaniards and the prolific portugese decided to war and compete with each other, very much like the British and French empires later,
ould find, wherever they could find them, all over the world

- it was just coincidence of course, that everywhere they went they also happened to find immeasurable riches and take over ancient trading ports and wealthy cities in the name of their faith.

nudge nudge

What you are getting wrong is that it was not the spanish inquisition that did this, but the Spanish Conquistadors, the spanish conquistidors were military leaders in charge of an army + missionaries that were bent on taking militarily and converting spiritually, areas deemed important to the kingdom of Spain, they are notably successful for acquiring, a monopoly of the Eastern Spice Trade in this fashion, they also wiped out whole peoples such as the Aztecs. It's great stuff, google Spanish Conquistadors for more info.

I'll watch this question for more info. Starred. Thanks :)

The diocese of Panama was created as Diocese of Santa MarÃ*a de La Antigua del Darién on 28 August 1513, only 21 years after Columbus 'discovered' America in 1492. http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dpana.html

Here is an old (1907) article on the history of Catholicism in Panama: http://newadvent.org/cathen/11438a.htm

With love in Christ.