Jose Ignacio Cienfuegos, ardent republican and patronist, was an outstanding ecclesiastical figure of the first generation of the republic who had a versatile personality. His ideas are essential to understanding the Church-State relations from 1810 to 1846. He negotiated with Rome the Muzi Mission, that the Holy See sent to Chile (1824-1825). He also intervened actively in the country's political life until at least 1830. A good priest, he was designated bishop of Concepcion by a motu propio of Gregory XVI in 1832.