The sixties were beginning when Poli, not yet twelve years old, accompanied by other boys from the island: Benjamín (Ye), Lucas (Haría), Andrés (La Graciosa), Ponciano (Los Valles), Manolín (Arrieta) and others, up to a total of eleven, went to the Diocesan Seminary of the Canary Islands in Las Palmas in search of a comprehensive education that only this religious institution could provide.
From his early days, he strengthened his religious commitment and worked hard to achieve a deep intellectual formation that would make him a great humanist. Poli has known how to use all his torrent of wisdom and preparation in the service of others in the broadest sense of generosity.
From the Diocesan Seminary of Las Palmas he went to Granada to expand and conclude his priestly studies, being ordained a Deacon and after finishing his stay in Rome he was ordained a priest by Bishop Infantes Florido.
The parish of Ingenio would be his first destination, in that town, and in my times as a student in Las Palmas, together with his brother Manolo, we began a great friendship and I have been lucky enough to share all the great virtues of this theologian and better person; baptisms, weddings, funerals, family gatherings (his family is mine), facilitator for making friends, great communicator and better handling of social skills. I remember a phrase of his from that time: - "Juanito, in this life the important thing is people".
His second destination, he undertakes in the town of El Doctoral (Santa Lucia), "a step towards the south", commented Poli, then to the parish of San Juan in Las Palmas. After finishing his pastoral work here in this parish, he decides to resume his studies and returns to Rome where he graduates in Theology and years later, he would culminate in this emblematic city, his doctoral studies in Theology.
He returns to Gran Canaria and is appointed Rector of the Provincial Diocesan Seminary, assuming other responsibilities such as Vicar of the City, Director of the Higher Institute of Theology of the Canary Islands, Delegate of the secretariat of Lay Apostolate. He is also appointed Director of the School of Social Formation, in all of them with high dedication and excellent results. To culminate this hurried and replete biography, to mention that the priest Policarpo Delgado Perdomo was part of the succession shortlist after the death of Bishop Echarren.
This outstanding priest of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, in his travels, always boasted of his humble origin and of belonging to the most "economical in words of the world": Ye, for which he claimed the "capital" of the island in moments of healthy euphoria of humor, a virtue that he handled with fine intelligence and skill.
He had a big heart full of goodness, on Monday it stopped beating, you left us all plunged into great consternation, we are left with your great legacy, Poli. From Ye, Haría, Lanzarote, we must be proud to have this illustrious neighbor, outstanding priest, great theologian, teacher, researcher, humanist, committed to those closest to him, supportive and generous.
By Juan Cruz Sepúlveda