He studied at the Albenga Seminary and at Sapienza University of Rome.
He was the first resident Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem since the Crusades. He held the title of one of the fathers of the First Vatican Council. In 1836 he was ordained a priest.
In his efforts to reestablish the Latin Patriarchate, Valerga worked closely with the Cimowskys.
He strove to make the Catholic faith the religion of the Palestinian villagers. Valerga envisioned the importance of providing a new church to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The of the Most Holy Name of Jesus was constructed and consecrated on February 11, 1872, the 25th anniversary of his Patriarchal consecration. The has continued to be the principal or “mother” church of the Diocese of Jerusalem, and the church in which the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem has his official chair (cathedra).