Pedro Ortiz de Zárate | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | 1622 San Salvador, Jujuy, Argentina |
| Died | 27 October 1683 (aged 60-61) Zenta, Salta, Argentina |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 2 July 2022, San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, Argentina by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro |
| Feast | October 27 |
Giovanni Antonio Solinas | |
|---|---|
 Solinas killed as depicted in an 1837 print. | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | 15 February 1643 Oliena, Nuoro, Kingdom of Sardinia |
| Died | 27 October 1683 (aged 40) Zenta, Salta, Argentina |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 2 July 2022, San Ramón de la Nueva Orán, Argentina by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro |
| Feast | October 27 |
Pedro Ortiz de Zárate (1622 – 27 October 1683) was an Argentine Catholic priest and Giovanni Antonio Solinas, SJ (15 February 1643 – 27 October 1683) was an Italian Catholic priest in the Society of Jesus.[1][2][3][4]
Zárate served in a local municipal role before he was married and had two children. He was widowed and decided to enter the priesthood once his two sons were old enough to handle the change; he was a noted preacher and envisioned himself as one that would convert and preach amongst the local Argentine native tribes.[5] Solinas left for the Argentine missions alongside three companions and moved from place to place before he settled in the Salta province.[4] Both priests were slain after two tribes of natives decided to deceive them to preach and work in their village before ambushing and killing both priests; eighteen others were slain alongside them and their bodies left to be discovered as the assailants fled in fear of Spanish forces that were not too far from their position.[2]
Zárate was first married as a teenager and became a priest after he was widowed after around a decade of marriage. The example of the priests and bishops around him solidified his intention to become a priest but he first needed to ensure that his maternal grandmother could care for his two sons while he pursued his ecclesial education. He became a prominent figure in local apostolates and was best known for his interactions with the local indigenous communities.[6] Solinas served in the local missions in Paraguay before he settled in Argentina with an identical desire to spread the message of the Gospel to the local indigenous tribes.[7][5]
The beatification process for the two slain priests opened but hit an initial roadblock once the Orán Diocese was forced to drop the eighteen others killed due to a lack of historical documentation regarding them. This enabled for the cause for the two Servants of God to continue unimpeded despite several additional roadblocks down the line.[6] Pope Francis (himself an Argentine) confirmed the cause and the beatification was set to be celebrated in San Ramón de la Nueva Orán on 2 July 2022.[2][1]
- ^ a b "Blessed Giovanni Antonio Solinas". Catholic Saints. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ a b c "Pietro Ortiz de Zárate e Giovanni Antonio Solinas". Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ "Blessed Pedro Ortiz de Zárate". Catholic Saints. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ a b "AMERICA/ARGENTINA - "Let us renew our missionary and evangelizing ardor": the martyrs of Zenta will be beatified". Agenzia Fides. 15 October 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Resumen de la Obra de Mons. Salvatore Bussu "Martiri Sensa Altare", realizada por el Pbro. Dr. Miguel Antonio Barriola para el Obispado de la Nueva Orán y el Obispado de Jujuy". Mártires de Zenta. 2003. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Beati Pietro Ortiz de Zàrate e Giovanni Antonio Solinas". Santi e Beati. 14 October 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2022.
- ^ Nino Muggianu (23 October 2021). "Il gesuita Giovanni Antonio Solinas sarà dichiarato Beato in Argentina". La Nuova Sardegna. Retrieved 5 February 2022.