FRANCESCO da Pamplona. — Known as “The Spanish Capuchin,” a singular figure who combined the roles of soldier and lay brother in the Capuchin order, born Tiburcio de Redin in Pamplona on 11 August 1597, died at La Guayra (Venezuela) on 31 August 1651.
Of noble birth, he was admired for his abilities and valor and rose to the rank of general in the army. In 1637 he converted to the penitential life of the Capuchins and, through his influence and example, promoted the missionary movement. Thanks to his good offices with Philip IV, the expedition of Fr. Bonaventura da Alessandria, to which he attached himself, founded the first mission in the Congo in 1645. On his return to Europe in 1645 he solicited aid and support for the missions in London, Rome, and Madrid. He collaborated in 1647–48 in the establishment of the Capuchin mission in the Darién region (Colombia–Panama) and in 1650 carried out missionary work in the Cumaná region (Venezuela). After his death during the return journey, the renown of his life, which had become almost legendary, and of his virtues kept his tomb long in veneration.
BIBL.:
Mattheo de Anguiano, Vida y virtudes de el Capuchino Espiritual, ed. V. siervo de Dios F. de P., Madrid 1704;
Rocco da Cesinale, Storia delle missioni dei Cappuccini, III, Rome 1873, pp. 527–44, 577, 712–16;
Clemente da Terzorio, Le missioni dei Min. Cappuccini, X, ibid. 1938, pp. 370–38;
Melchior a Pobludura, Historia generalis Ordinis Min. Capuccinorum, pars 2, II, ibid. 1948, pp. 354–55, 395–97;
Documentos históricos: Fray Francisco de Pamplona, La misión del Congo, in Boletín oficial de la provincia capuchina de Navarra-Cantabria-Aragón, 3 (1948), pp. 67–73.