Antonio Zamorano

Antonio Raúl Zamorano Herrera (30 September 1908 – 13 September 1995) was a Chilean priest and politician, popularly known as El Cura de Catapilco (lit. "The Priest of Catapilco").

He gained national fame as an independent candidate in the 1958 Chilean presidential election, where his unexpected share of the vote drew crucial support away from Salvador Allende, indirectly contributing to the victory of Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez.

Early life and priesthood Zamorano was born in La Ligua to Benancio Zamorano Castro, a transport businessman, and Herminia Herrera. He studied at the Patronato San Antonio School in Santiago, and later at the Franciscan Seminary in La Granja, where he was ordained a priest in 1932. He undertook specialized studies at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.

He served as professor of philosophy, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, algebra and trigonometry at the La Granja seminary for five years, and then at the Seminary of Iquique for seven years, where he was secretary to Bishop Carlos Labbé Márquez.

In 1940, he was appointed parish priest of Catapilco, where he founded both the parish school and cemetery. His dedication to rural education and pastoral work earned him the nickname El Cura de Catapilco.

He left the priesthood in 1956 and married Aurelia Julio Valdivia in Santiago on 26 July 1964.

Political career Zamorano was motivated by social concerns rooted in his pastoral experience. He was elected councilman of Zapallar in 1952

1958 Presidential campaign In 1958, he ran as an independent candidate for the presidency of Chile, founding the National Labor Union to support his campaign.

His populist rhetoric, combined with strong anti-communist and nationalist themes, attracted rural and working-class voters across regions such as Valparaíso, Aconcagua, Talca and Linares.

Zamorano obtained 41,244 votes, or 3.3% of the total—slightly more than the margin separating Alessandri and Allende. Historians widely credit his candidacy with altering the outcome of the election, preventing Allende’s first potential victory.

Later years In the 1965 Chilean parliamentary election, he ran unsuccessfully for Deputy representing the 14th Departmental Grouping (Loncomilla, Linares and Parral) under the Comandos Populares banner.

During the military regime, Zamorano supported the government of Augusto Pinochet and publicly campaigned for the “Yes” option in the 1980 plebiscite.

He published opinion columns in La Tercera and foreign newspapers, and self-published a two-volume book titled El Diablo Vendiendo Cruces, reflecting his critique of Marxism and liberation theology.

Death He died in Santiago on 13 September 1995, at the age of 86.

His funeral was held at the Church of San Francisco de Borja, and his remains were interred in the parish cemetery of Catapilco, Zapallar.