Carlos Cuarteroni facts for kids

Rev. Monsignor Carlos Cuarteron (1816 – 1880) was a Spanish sailor who became a priest. He is famous for starting the first Roman Catholic missions in northern Borneo.

Who Was Carlos Cuarteron?

Carlos Cuarteron was born in Cadiz, Spain, in 1816. His father was Italian, and his mother was Spanish. He began his life at sea when he was just 13 years old.

He spent many years sailing between Manila in the Philippines and Macao. This helped him gain a lot of experience. By 1841, he had become a full captain.

An Adventurous Sailor

In February 1844, Carlos bought his own ship. It was a 146-ton schooner named Il Martiri de Tunkin. He used his ship for an exciting mission. He wanted to find valuable cargo from a sunken ship called the Christina.

He successfully found the treasure. After some time, he gave the treasure to its owners in Hong Kong. He was well rewarded for his honest work.

From Sailor to Priest

Carlos went on several more voyages. He explored islands south and east of the Philippines. During these trips, he helped free many enslaved people. He also started to share his religious beliefs with others.

He became more and more interested in missionary work. A missionary is someone who travels to spread their faith. Carlos decided to go back to Europe. He wanted to get support and training to become a priest.

In 1855, the Pope appointed him as a "Priest Apostolic" for Borneo. This meant he was given a special role to lead the Catholic Church's efforts there. In 1856, he sailed back to the East. Two Italian priests joined him to help with the mission.

Missions in Borneo

The mission was welcomed in Labuan in 1857. They set up stations in Brunei and at Looc Porin. Looc Porin was near where Kota Kinabalu is today.

However, Carlos faced difficulties with his assistants. By 1860, he was left alone to continue the mission. Because of this, the mission did not make much progress.

Carlos Cuarteron became ill. He resigned from his position in Rome in December 1879. He then returned to his sister's home in Cadiz, Spain. He passed away from pneumonia on March 12, 1880.

See also

In Spanish: Carlos Cuarteroni Fernández para niños