Joan Gilabert Jofré was a 14th-century friar of the Order of Mercy who lived in Valencia. A dedicated preacher and administrator, he served as the Superior of his order and worked extensively to ransom Christian captives. He is most famously remembered for establishing what is considered the first psychiatric institution in Europe, created to provide care for the mentally ill. His humanitarian efforts also included founding a hospice for pilgrims and a home for abandoned children, significantly influencing early social welfare in Spain.