Pedro Cortés y Larraz
|
The Most Reverend Pedro Cortés y Larraz |
|
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Guatemala | |
Official portrait
|
|
| Province | Guatemala |
| Diocese | Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala |
| See | Guatemala City |
| Installed | 1767 |
| Term ended | 1779 |
| Predecessor | Francisco José de Figueredo y Victoria |
| Successor | Cayetano Francos y Monroy |
| Other posts | Bishop of Tortosa (1780–1786) |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 1767 |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
6 July 1712 Belchite,  Spain
|
| Died | 7 July 1787 (aged 75) Zaragoza, Spain
|
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Denomination | Catholic |
Pedro Cortés y Larraz (Belchite, Zaragoza, 6 July 1712 - Zaragoza, 7 July 1787) was Archbishop of Guatemala between 1767 and 1779 and bishop of Tortosa between 1780 and 1786.
Graduated with a doctorate in Spain when he was years old, and later was ordained as priest. Moved to the Spain possessions in America was consecrated bishop by Francisco Fabián Fuero in Puebla de los Ángeles.
Upon taking over the archdiocese of Guatemala, began preparing to travel all across his new dominion; he sent letter to all the secular priests ahead of time so they were ready to have a report for him upon his arrival. From this trip, which lasted from November 1768 to August 1770, he wrote Descripción Geográfico-Moral de la Diócesis de Goathemala (Moral and geographic description of the Diocese of Guatemala). By 1769, Cortés y Larraz was so disappointed with the ecclesiastical situation of his new diocese that were presented his resignation, but king Carlos III did not accept it and he had to continue as archibishop. Among the problems that he could see were the excessive alcoholism of the people during the liturgical ceremonies and the poor preparation the secular clergy had in most of the parishes -the latter, a result of the regular clergy returning all of their doctrines in 1754 following a king's order and borbon reforms.
Strong willed and defender of the doctrine orthodoxy was in constant conflict with the Spanish authorities and the clergy itself.
On 12 June 1773 Capitain General Martín de Mayorga was inaugurated, and alongside Cortés y Larráz and the regular clergy vicars, were the top authorities in the Kingdom of Guatemala and would be the main characters in the events that followed the 1773 earthquakes. In May 1773 soft tremors began to be felt, but gradually they were increasing in intensity and on 11 June 1773 an earthquake damaged several houses and buildings; after that soft tremors continued, but on 29 July 1773, day of Santa Marta de Bethania, a catastrophic earthquake occurred. Large damages occurred across the city, but not all of it was completely destroyed. In spite of that, Captain General Martín de Mayorga asked the king of Spain for permission to move the city to a new location on 21 July 1775. Permission was granted on 2 January 1776, and the new location chosen is where the modern Guatemala City sits, by then led by Captain General Matías de Gálvez y Gallardo. On the other hand, Cortés y Larraz opposed the move, as he realized that it would represent a loss of both power and revenue for his archdiocese; besides the convents and temples needed to be built again, and he did not have enough money to support that.
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Wikipedia