11 Facts About Luis Sotelo

Luis Sotelo, OFM, in English known as Louis Sotelo, was a Franciscan friar from Spain who died as a martyr in Japan, in 1624, and was beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1867.

Luis Sotelo became a Franciscan Friar and was ordained a priest.

Luis Sotelo spent four years in Manila, learning the Japanese language before going to Japan and taking a leading role there.

Luis Sotelo tried to establish a Franciscan church in the area of Edo.

The Bakufu reacted by arresting the Christians, and Luis Sotelo himself was put in the Kodenma-cho prison.

Luis Sotelo had the Japanese receive baptism in Madrid, before accompanying them to see Pope Paul V in Rome.

Luis Sotelo remained for a full year in Madrid, along with the rest of the embassy.

Luis Sotelo accompanied ambassador Hasekura and the remains of the embassy back to Veracruz and Acapulco, where the San Juan Bautista, requested by the outgoing Viceroy of the Philippines to convey him to the Philippines before returning to Sendai, diverted their course to Manila, arriving there in 1620.

Luis Sotelo finally managed to enter Japan in 1622 and was turned over to the authorities by Chinese merchants when he was discovered on their ship.

Luis Sotelo was imprisoned for two years at Omura, north of Nagasaki, while the shogun deliberated on his case.

Luis Sotelo was beatified by Pope Pius IX on 7 July 1867.