LUIS CARDINAL APONTE MARTíNEZ

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'His Eminence, Luis Cardinal Aponte Martínez' (born August 4, 1922) is the only Puerto Rican ever to be consecrated a Cardinal of the Catholic Church, and for 34 years was the Archbishop of San Juan. Cardinal Aponte was a cardinal elector in the two conclaves of 1978.

Contents

Early life and education

Priesthood and Episcopacy

Cardinal

Episcopal Succession

See also

Early life and education

Martínez was born in the town of Lajas, Puerto Rico. He came from a large family and his deep religious devotion was evident from an early age. Both his parents and siblings were devoted Catholics and Martínez served as an altar boy for many years in his town's parochial church. This experience was in part, the inspiration that motivated him to take up the vocation of priesthood.
He studied in the Seminary of San Juan in Puerto Rico; from here he went to Boston, Massachusetts where he studied in the Seminary of Saint John. He also attended Boston College and earned his Doctorate from the Seminary of Saint Leo of Florida.

Priesthood and Episcopacy

Martínez was ordained a catholic priest in San German, Puerto Rico in April 10, 1950. Between 1950 and 1960, he was the superintendent of the Catholic Schools for the diocese of Ponce and chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. He also served as Chaplain for the Puerto Rican National Guard.
On October 12, 1960, Aponte Martinez became the second Puerto Rican to be consecrated Bishop, having been appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ponce, Puerto Rico by Pope John XXIII. The first Puerto Rican to hold this post was Juan Alejo de Arizmendi. On April 16, 1963 he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Ponce, and November 18, 1963 succeeded as Bishop of Ponce. In 1964, Martinez became the Archbishop of San Juan at the recommendation of Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York.

Cardinal

On March 5, 1973, Pope Paul VI honored Aponte Martinez by making him a Cardinal and bestowed on him the title of "Santa Maria della Provvidenza a Monteverde". He held the position of President of the Board of Directors of the Catholic University of Puerto Rico. He was also the President of the Latin American Episcopal Conference.
In 1984, Martínez helped coordinate and was among the many dignitaries who greeted Pope John Paul II, upon his Holiness' visit to Puerto Rico.
Cardinal Aponte was actively involved in some of the church's major acquisitions in Puerto Rico. Among these were a television and radio station and a weekly publication called "El Visitante" (The Visitor). This served to spread the church's point of view all over the island.
Cardinal Aponte retired as Archbishop of San Juan in 1999. He participated in the preparation for the papal conclave of 2005 but was unable to vote, since he was 82 at the time of the conclave.
In 2006, he published his memoirs.

Episcopal Succession

See also

★ List of famous Puerto Ricans