Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur

The work of Pedro de San José Betancur was rooted in concrete charity toward the most destitute of colonial society. After becoming a Franciscan tertiary, he established an oratory, a school, and an infirmary in Santiago de los Caballeros, all placed under the name of Belén (Bethlehem). He opened there one of the first hospitals for convalescents in the Americas, intended to take in those whom other establishments turned away once their acute treatment was completed. He also welcomed vagabonds, troubled adolescents, and the needy of every condition. His school for the poor was distinguished by its openness, without distinction of race or sex, welcoming Spanish, indigenous, African, and mestizo children. From this inspiration was born the Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Bethlehem (Bethlehemites), the first religious congregation founded in America, dedicated to the care of the sick and the poor; a female branch, the Bethlehemite Sisters, was developed later, notably under the impetus of Mother Encarnación Rosal. Tradition also attributes to him the introduction in America of the "posadas," popular Advent processions recalling the search for lodging by Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.

The holiness of Pedro de San José Betancur was manifested less through functions or honors than through a life of humble and silent service. A deeply prayerful man, he led an austere existence, sharing the condition of the destitute whom he helped. His spirituality was rooted in the contemplation of the mystery of Bethlehem and the Cross: it was by meditating on the abasement of Christ born in a manger that he learned to recognize, in the words of John Paul II during his canonization, "the face of God in man." The Pope highlighted his tenderness and immense love for the suffering and the marginalized, making him "a brother to all those who lived in misfortune." His charity consisted of total dedication to his neighbor, animated by the conviction that serving the poor was equivalent to serving the Lord himself. This reputation for holiness, vivid from the year following his death, led to the collection of testimonies about his life and virtues very early on, the foundation of the long process that would lead, more than three centuries later, to his recognition by the Church.

The cause of Pedro de San José Betancur was introduced shortly after his death, with testimonies regarding his life and virtues having been collected as early as the following year. The process, however, spanned more than three centuries. Pope John Paul II solemnly beatified him on June 22, 1980. His canonization took place on July 30, 2002, during an apostolic journey to Guatemala, with the Pope himself presiding over the ceremony in Guatemala City. Betancur thus became the first saint of Central America, the first saint of Guatemala, and the first saint native to the Canary Islands. The miracle accepted for his canonization was the healing of a child suffering from intestinal lymphoma, who was from Vilaflor, the very place of the saint's birth. His liturgical memorial is set for April 25, the anniversary of his death; in Guatemala, it is often celebrated on April 24 so as not to coincide with the feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, patron of the ancient colonial city. In his canonization homily, John Paul II presented him as a pressing call to mercy and social justice for the contemporary world.

The legacy of Pedro de San José Betancur continues through the Order of Bethlehemite Brothers and Sisters, whose members have carried on his work of caring for the sick and educating the poor in Latin America and beyond. Nicknamed the "Saint Francis of Assisi of the Americas" because of his spirit of poverty and charity, he is honored as the patron saint of Guatemala, the Canary Islands, and more broadly of Central America, as well as of the poor, the sick, the homeless, and those who dedicate themselves to the service of the suffering. His tomb, preserved in the church of San Francisco in Antigua Guatemala, remains one of the most important places of pilgrimage in the country, attracting the faithful who come to implore his intercession and testify to graces received. In Tenerife, his native island, devotion to him remains very vibrant, particularly around the Hermano Pedro sanctuary in El Médano. A pioneer of social services in 17th-century colonial America, he is also credited with popularizing the Advent tradition of the "posadas," which is deeply rooted in Latin American Christian culture today.