Luis Aponte Martínez

infobox cardinalbiog
name = Luis Aponte Martínez


See = San Juan (emeritus)
Title = Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus of San Juan
Period = January 15, 1965 – March 26, 1999
cardinal = March 5, 1973
Predecessor = Most Rev. James Peter Davis †
Successor = Most Rev. Roberto Gonzalez Nieves
post = Bishop of Ponce
date of birth = Birth date and age|1922|8|4|mf=y
place of birth = Lajas, Puerto Rico|

Luis 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.

Early life and education

infobox cardinalstyles
cardinal name=Luis Aponte Martínez
dipstyle=His Eminence
offstyle=Your Eminence
relstyle=
See=San Juan (Emeritus)|

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

Episcopal_Succession
date of consecration=October 12 1960
consecrated by=Francis Spellman
bishopconsecrated1 = bishopconsecrated1
bishop 1=Miguel Rodriguez Rodriguez
consecration date 1=March 23 1974
bishopconsecrated2 = bishopconsecrated2
bishop 2=Ulises Aurelio Casiano Vargas
consecration date 2=April 30 1976
bishopconsecrated3 = bishopconsecrated3
bishop 3=Héctor Manuel Rivera Pérez
consecration date 3=August 17 1979
bishopconsecrated4 = bishopconsecrated4
bishop 4=Enrique Manuel Hernández Rivera
consecration date 4=August 17 1979
bishopconsecrated5 = bishopconsecrated5
bishop 5=Hermín Negrón Santana
consecration date 5=September 7 1981
bishopconsecrated6 = bishopconsecrated6
bishop 6=Ruben Antonio González Medina
consecration date 6=February 4 2001
bishopconsecrated7 = bishopconsecrated7
bishop 7=
consecration date 7=
bishopconsecrated8 = null
bishop 8=
consecration date 8=
bishopconsecrated9 = null
bishop 9=
consecration date 9=
bishopconsecrated10 = null
bishop 10=
consecration date 10=
bishopconsecrated11 = null
bishop 11=
consecration date 11=
bishopconsecrated12 = null
bishop 12=
consecration date 12=
bishopconsecrated13 = null
bishop 13=
consecration date 13=
bishopconsecrated14 = null
bishop 14=
consecration date 14=
bishopconsecrated15 = null
bishop 15=
consecration date 15=
bishopconsecrated16 = null
bishop 16=
consecration date 16=
bishopconsecrated17 = null
bishop 17=
consecration date 17=
bishopconsecrated18 = null
bishop 18=
consecration date 18=
bishopconsecrated19 = null
bishop 19=
consecration date 19=
bishopconsecrated20 = null
bishop 20=
consecration date 20=

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans