The Patriarch Giuseppe Valerga was born in Luano near Genoa in Italy on April 9^th, 1813. He finished his elementary school in Vinalborgo College. A lady sponsored his studies because his parents were poor and he was enrolled into the seminary in Banga. He continued his high studies in La Sapienza University in Rome and went on to receive his PH.D in theology and Ecclesiastical Law. He studied the French, Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic languages in the university and later perfected the Turkish, Kurdish and Kaldanish languages.

       He was ordinated a priest on January 17^th, 1836 and worked in the Faith Announcement Council. He became supervisor of the documents department that were issued in the Latin, Greek and Arabic languages. He was appointed to be an assistant to the Apostolic delegate in Syria and then he served in the Kaldanic church.

       When Pope Pius the nineth decided to return the Latin Patriarchate to Jerusalem, Valerca was elected for the position on May 17^th, 1847 at only thirty-four years of age. The Pope ordained him to be a bishop on October 10^th, 1847.

       The Patriarch Giuseppe Valerga had several precious qualities like straight forwardness, faithfulness, cleverness, skillfulness and a deep understanding of science and doctrine. He faithfully served the church in Syria, Persia and Mesopotamia.

       Five charitable institutions and the following 12 parishes were established under Patriarch Valerga between 1852 and 1869: the Seminary, Beit Jala, Jifna, Lud, Ramallah, Beit Sahour, Taybeh, Bir Zeit, Nablus, As-Salt, Shafa`mr and Yaafet an-Naasera.