Pedro Ruiz de Valdivia Pérez
Catholic priest murdered in 1936
Who they were
Pedro Ruiz de Valdivia Pérez was born on 30 December 1872 at Huétor Vega, Spain. Ordained priest in 1896, he served as a curate and later as parish priest in several places, finally as archpriest of the parish of the Incarnation at Alhama de Granada. On 25 July 1936, sensing that his church would be attacked, he returned that evening to consume the consecrated Hosts so they would not be profaned.
Arrested two days later, he heard the confessions of fellow prisoners in jail. On 30 July 1936 he was driven out and shot along the road from Alhama to Loja, holding a crucifix and forgiving his killers, together with the young Catholic Action leader José Muñoz Calvo and a curate, Fr José Frías Ruiz, and the latter's elderly father. He was beatified with fifteen other martyrs of the diocese of Granada on 26 February 2022.
The miracles
As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.
Why that counted as sanctity
Parish priest shot near Alhama de Granada during the Spanish Civil War for his faith; beatified with fifteen other martyrs of the diocese of Granada on 26 February 2022.
The cause
The cause continues. No postulation address is published here yet. Favours received through this person’s intercession, and offers of help, are best sent to the religious order or congregation they belonged to, or to the diocese where the cause was opened; either will pass them to the postulation.
Connected on this site
- José Frías Ruiz Blessed“On 30 July 1936 he was driven out and shot along the road from Alhama to Loja, holding a crucifix and forgiving his killers, together with the young Catholic Action leader José Muñoz Calvo and a curate, Fr José Frías Ruiz, and the latter's elderly father.” — this site's research
- José Muñoz Calvo Blessed“On 30 July 1936 he was driven out and shot along the road from Alhama to Loja, holding a crucifix and forgiving his killers, together with the young Catholic Action leader José Muñoz Calvo and a curate, Fr José Frías Ruiz, and the latter's elderly father.” — this site's research
- Santi, beati e testimoni (santiebeati.it) - Beato Pietro Ruiz de Valdivia Pérez, by Emilia Flocchini
- Wikidata Q133802750 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
Checked against the sources listed on 22 September 2026. Corrections welcome.