Pere Tarrés i Claret was born in Manresa on 30th May 1905 and died in Barcelona on 31st August 1950.

In only 45 years, he accomplished a great labour of quality, an intense and fertile ministry in the three fields that were most important in his life: medicine, leading young people and the priesthood.

From 1926 to 1939, he earned a reputation as a doctor and profound expert in human nature, who knew how to establish the connection between body and spirit easily and who valued individuals, whom he treated affably at all times. He was an army doctor with the Republican Army at the front during the Spanish Civil War and treated a number of wounded at the terrible battle of Valadreo, among other battles, where the tragic circumstances and precariousness of available means made his work as a doctor a heroic act.

From 1931 to 1936, he was the director of the Catalonian Young Christians Federation (FJOC), where he was a memorable leader and trainer at public events and meetings with members. He was persecuted for his active participation when priests were being executed in Barcelona and was forced to remain in hiding for a year.
Examples of the FJOC’s ideals can be found in Dr. Tarrés’ articles in Flama magazine, ideas which he shared and was expert in transmitting to young people. The whole of human and Christian values can be discovered in his words, values that he set down intelligently in ardent and communicative language.

He was ordained as a priest in May 1942 and undertook all the priestly tasks commended him with great humility and the will to serve. He was the vicar of Sant Esteve de Sesroviers and worked there in renovating the aspirations d’A.C.

He understood how to unite prayer and action. Thus, he lived an extraordinarily full and dynamic life, a life with a sense of the transcendental and great enthusiasm and confidence which he transmitted to all those with whom he came in contact.

Together with his friend Dr. Gerard Manresa, the renowned and highly competent specialist in tuberculosis, he founded the Clinica Sanatori de la Mare de Déu de la Mercè in 1947, in the building which is currently the Pere Tarrés Foundation headquarters and which treated many families without resources affected by tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.

In 1949, he was appointed Member of the Board of the Catholic School of Social Workers, where he also worked as a teacher.