Pope Leo XIV held up Blessed Jacinto Vera as an example during an address to bishops, priests, and religious gathered inside the Cathedral of Montevideo in Uruguay.
- Pope Leo XIV addressed the clergy, religious, and seminarians in Montevideo, holding up the nation’s first bishop as an example for ministry.
- Blessed Jacinto Vera’s earthly remains rest beneath the Cathedral of Montevideo following his beatification at the Estadio Centenario on May 6, 2023.
- Born at sea on July 3, 1813, during an Atlantic crossing from the Canary Islands, Vera shaped early Uruguayan ecclesiastical jurisdiction through decades of missionary work.
Addressing the congregation during the recitation of vespers at the Montevideo Cathedral, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the accessible holiness of Uruguay’s historic prelate. “Quienes se acercaban a él encontraban algo de la bondad de Cristo, incluso antes de escuchar una palabra de su predicación,” the pontiff noted, highlighting how Vera’s presence preceded his actual sermons.
The papal visit highlighted the physical legacy embedded within the cathedral's vaults. “Bajo las bóvedas de esta Catedral descansa el cuerpo del beato Jacinto Vera,” Pope Leo XIV stated, drawing attention to the feet that walked across Uruguay, the hands that administered sacraments, and the eyes that focused on those requiring aid.
From Atlantic Birth to Uruguayan Episcopate
Jacinto Vera y Durán entered a shifting geopolitical landscape upon his birth on July 3, 1813, aboard a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean while his family migrated from the Canary Islands to Uruguay. After spending his youth engaged in rural labor in Maldonado and Toledo, his focus shifted toward the priesthood at age 19.
Following his theological training in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he received his priestly ordination on June 5, 1841. He subsequently served as the parish priest of the Villa de Guadalupe de Canelones for 17 years, spanning from 1842 to 1859, according to biographical records published by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints.
| Milestone Date | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| July 3, 1813 | Birth aboard an Atlantic vessel | Atlantic Ocean (En route from Canary Islands) |
| June 5, 1841 | Priestly ordination | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| September 22, 1864 | Designated titular bishop of Megara | |
| July 13, 1878 | Appointed first Bishop of Montevideo | Montevideo, Uruguay |
| May 6, 2023 | Beatification ceremony | Estadio Centenario, Montevideo |
Vera Defended Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Against Government Intrusion
Appointed Apostolic Vicar of Montevideo in 1859, Vera focused heavily on clergy formation and broad pastoral campaigns. His defense of ecclesiastical jurisdiction against government intrusion prompted political friction, resulting in an exile spent in Buenos Aires from October 1862 until August 1863.
Following his designation as titular bishop of Megara on September 22, 1864, and his subsequent episcopal consecration on July 16, 1865, Vera participated in the First Vatican Council between October 1869 and December 1870. Upon returning to Montevideo on January 25, 1871, he worked to mediate the ongoing civil conflict.
The restoration of internal peace allowed him to expand his missionary footprint, aided by the arrival of the Jesuits and the first group of Salesians. On June 4, 1875, he consecrated Uruguay to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. After the creation of the Diocese of Montevideo, Vera was named its first bishop on July 13, 1878.
Final Mission and Modern Recognition
Vera maintained an exhaustive travel schedule across remote missions until his final journey. On April 28, 1881, he departed for a pastoral mission to Pan de Azúcar, an arduous trip that severely compromised his health. He died there on May 6, 1881.
Decades later, the path to beatification advanced when Pope Francis approved a documented miracle involving the healing of a young girl in 1936. This paved the way for his official beatification on May 6, 2023, at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario—a status that Pope Leo XIV reinforced during his recent engagement with contemporary clergy.
