In June, 1834, he entered the seminary, and after ordination was appointed chaplain of the Invalid home. In 1837 he went as a missionary to the natives of the Chiloé archipelago, and later accompanied Bishop Vicuna on his episcopal visit to the northern provinces as his secretary. He attained note as a pulpit orator, and was one of the founders of the papers "La Revista Católica" and "E1 Boletin Eclesiastico." In 1838 he was offered the bishoprics of Ancud and Serena, both of which he declined.

When the University of Chile was founded in 1842, Valdivieso was appointed member of the faculty of theology, and afterward he was elected dean. On the resignation of Archbishop Eyzaguirre in 1852, public opinion designated Valdivieso as his successor, and the government presented him to the Holy See, where his election was confirmed, and in July, 1848, he was consecrated.

During his administration he introduced many reforms, founded several religious houses for orphans and the care of patients in the hospitals, and societies to protect young women and for the education of young ladies. He greatly favored the conciliary seminary, and founded the Academia de Ciencias Sagradas. In 1870 he went to Rome to assist at the ecumenical council, where, on account of his juridical knowledge, he was elected to all the special committees. He was one of the most learned churchmen of South America, and, although he is thoroughly identified with the ultramontane party, his memory is venerated even by his political opponents in Chile.

VALDIVIES0 y ZANARTU, Rafael Valen. tin (val-de-ve-ay'-so), Chilian archbishop, born in Santiago, 2 November, 1804; died there in 1878. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and appointed attorney of orphans, and in 1829 corporation counsel for Santiago. In 1831 he was elected deputy to congress, and served on a commission to arrange rules of municipal government under the constitution of 1828. He also led the opposition against, a project to increase the salary of the president of the republic, and obtained its rejection. He was elected in 1832 a member of the court of appeals before he had attained the required age. In June, 1834, he entered the church, and after ordination was appointed chaplain of the Invalid home. In 1837 he went as a missionary to the natives of the Chiloe archipelago, and later accompanied Bishop Vicuna on his episcopal visit to the northern provinces as his secretary. He attained note as a pulpit orator, and was one of the founders of the papers "La Revista Catdlica" and "E1 Boletin Eclesiastico." In 1838 he was offered the bishoprics of Ancud and Serena, both of which he declined. When the University of Chili was founded in 1842, Valdivieso was appointed member of the faculty of theology, and afterward he was elected dean. On the resignation of Archbishop Eyzaguirre in 1852, public opinion designated Valdivieso as his successor, and the government presented him to the holy see, where his election was confirmed, and in July, 1848, he was consecrated. During his administration he introduced many reforms, founded several religious houses for orphans and the care of patients in the hospitals, and societies to protect young women and for the education of young ladies. He greatly favored the conciliary seminary, and founded the Academia de Ciencias Sagradas. In 1870 he went to Rome to assist at the ecumenical council, where, on account of his juridical knowledge, he was elected to all the special committees. He was one of the most learned churchmen of South America, and, although he is thoroughly identified with the ultramontane party, his memory is venerated even by his political opponents in Chili.