Charles de Foucauld (1858–1916) was a French aristocrat, soldier, explorer, and later a hermit and priest, renowned for his deep spirituality and dedication to living among the Tuareg people of the Sahara. Born in Strasbourg, he was orphaned at six and raised by his grandfather. He led a dissipated life during his youth, but his experiences in North Africa, particularly witnessing the devoutness of Muslims, sparked a profound spiritual transformation. This led him to rediscover his Catholic faith and pursue a life of religious devotion.

After joining the Trappist order and spending time in monasteries in France and Syria, de Foucauld felt called to a more solitary and austere form of worship. He lived as a hermit in Nazareth before being ordained as a priest in 1901. He then settled in the Algerian Sahara, near the town of Tamanrasset, among the Tuareg people. There, he dedicated himself to a ministry of presence, learning the Tuareg language and culture, and producing a comprehensive Tuareg-French dictionary. His approach was not to proselytize actively but to embody Christian virtues through his actions and lifestyle.​

De Foucauld's life ended tragically in 1916 when he was killed by a band of marauders. However, his legacy lived on, inspiring the foundation of several religious communities, including the Little Brothers of Jesus and the Little Sisters of Jesus, who continue to serve in various parts of the world. He was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and canonized by Pope Francis in 2022.