Then he took off his hat, and holding the royal banner in one hand and his sword in the other he said aloud: I take possession of this island, which I name San Salvador,( *) and of all the islands and lands about it in the name of my patron and sovereign lady, Isabella, and her kingdom of Castile.

This, or something like it, he said, for the exact words are not known to us.
(*) The island of San Salvador means the island of the Holy Saviour.

Columbus and the Spanish explorers who followed him gave Bible or religious names to very much of the land they discovered.
And when he had done this the captains and sailors fell at his feet in wonder and admiration, begging him to forgive them for all the hard things they had said about him.

For you have found Cathay, they cried.
You are our leader.

You will make us rich and powerful.