ANOTHER SAINT FOR CHILE

Born in Santiago, Chile, SERVANT of GOD FRANCISCO MAXIMIANO VALDES SUBERCASEAUX , joined the Order of the Franciscan Friars Minor Capuchins in Germany, in 1930, and was ordained to the Priesthood at 25 years of age, on March 17, 1934, in Venice, Italy, after successfully undergoing studies at the Pontifical Latin American Seminary and the Pontifical Gregorian University.

Back in Chile in 1935, he was assigned within the Apostolic Vicariate of Araucanía, where he served as Professor of Philosophy at the Major Seminary of San Fidel, in San José de la Mariquina, and furthermore as Vicar Coordinator of the Parish of Boroa, and Spiritual Director of the Congregación de las Hermanas Catequistas de Boroa.

 A prish Priest of Pucón between 1943 and 1956, he erected the Monastery of Saint Clare for women Capuchin Religious.

Meeting Pope Paul VI

At age 47, Pope Pius XII appointed him as the First Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Osorno, receiving his Episcopal Consecration on September 16, 1956, from Archbishop Sebastiano Baggio, assisted by Bishops Manuel Larraín Errazuriz and Guido Benedetto Beck de Ramberga OFM. Cap.,

A remarkable figure, the Bishop spent his last months with the Capuchin Friars of Araucanía, after being diagnosed with gastric cancer. He died at the San Francisco de Pucón Hospital, on January 4, 1982, aged 74. His last words were: "I offer my life to the Pope, to the Church, to the Diocese of Osorno, to the poor, to the peace between Chile and Argentina, and to the triumph of Love"