Fernando Vives Solar (1871–1935) was a Chilean Jesuit known as one of the foremost advocates of the Catholic social teachings in Chile.
[1] Vives influenced a generation of young men including Alberto Hurtado, Clotario Blest and future historian Jaime Eyzaguirre.
[1][2][3] His advocacy for social questions was not well received among the conservative elites who forced Vives to leave the country in 1918 for an exile in Spain until 1931 when he returned to Chile.
In the subsequent year, he returned to Chile and served as a history teacher at the Colegio San Ignacio and as the director of the Congregación Mariana.
[5] During this period, Chile was grappling with the social question, and Vives decided to serve the workers while applying the encyclical Rerum novarum.
While in Córdoba, Vives established various organizations, including an orphanage, a company for building affordable housing for workers, and social study circles.
During his time in Europe, he traveled to various European cities, studying the Social Doctrine of the Church and workers' organizations.