CLERICI, BERNARDO. – Friar Minor, missionary in Bolivia, born in Pompejana on 5 January 1825, died in Tumapasa on 1 June 1907. C. became a Franciscan in the Observant Bolognese Province on 30 July 1843, made his profession on 30 July 1844, and was ordained a priest in 1848. In 1853 he departed for the missions of the missionary college of La Paz in Bolivia. In September 1854 he was assigned to the mission of San José de Uchupiamonas, where he remained for 53 years.
He did much to preserve and expand Christianity, so that his memory has remained alive among the peoples of the region, and especially among those living near Uchupiamonas, who belonged to tribes speaking very different languages. To overcome this difficulty, C. created a common language, taking Quichua as its basis; he outlined its grammar and translated the catechism and
various sermons into II. In the course of time this language was perfected and became current among the population of the mission.