Eduardo Martinez Somalo Spanish cardinal. Cardinal Deacon with the Deaconate of the Holy Name of Jesus Date of Birth: 31.03.1927 Country: Vatican

Biography of Eduardo Martinez Somalo

Eduardo Martinez Somalo was a Spanish cardinal. He was born on March 31, 1927 in Banos de Rio Tobia, in the Diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada, Spain. He received his education at the Seminary of Logrono and the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a degree in theology and canon law. He continued his studies at the Pontifical Academy of the Holy Spirit and the Pontifical Lateran University, where he obtained a doctorate in canon law.

On March 19, 1950, he was ordained as a priest by Monsignor Luigi Traglia, Titular Archbishop of Cesarea di Palestina, the Vicar of Rome (future cardinal). He served as a pastor in the curia of the diocese and as a teacher at the Marco Fabio Quintiliano Institute, while continuing his education in Rome. On August 1, 1956, he was invited to work at the Vatican's Secretariat of State. From 1957 to 1970, he served as secretary of the nunciature and taught at the Pontifical Academy of the Holy Spirit. On April 14, 1960, he was appointed an honorary chamberlain of His Holiness and was responsible for the Spanish section of the Vatican's Secretariat of State. In 1970, he became a counselor of the apostolic delegation in Great Britain. He served as a civil servant in the Vatican's Secretariat of State from 1970 to 1975 and also worked as a pastor at the Roman Hospital. On May 14, 1970, he was appointed an honorary prelate of His Holiness.

Martinez Somalo was appointed as the Titular Archbishop of Tagora and the papal nuncio to Colombia on November 12, 1975. He was consecrated as a bishop on December 13, 1975, in Vatican City, by Cardinal Jean Villot, the bishop of the suburbicarian diocese of Frascati and the Secretary of State of the Vatican. From May 5, 1979 to June 28, 1988, he served as the Deputy Secretary of State of the Vatican. On June 28, 1988, he was elevated to the rank of cardinal deacon with the diaconate of the Holy Name of Jesus. He served as the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments from July 1, 1988 to January 21, 1992. He then became the Prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life from January 21, 1992 to February 11, 2004. He also served as the Camerlengo of the Roman Catholic Church from April 5, 1993. He was elevated to the rank of cardinal priest with the title of the church of the Holy Name of Jesus on January 9, 1999.

Upon reaching the age limit, he resigned from the position of prefect on February 11, 2004. He was one of the influential cardinals in the Roman Curia and served as the acting head of the Vatican during the Sede Vacante period. He participated in the 2005 conclave. He was close to Pope Benedict XVI at the papal court.

On March 31, 2007, Cardinal Somalo turned 80 and lost the right to participate in the conclave. On April 4, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI accepted the resignation of Cardinal Eduardo Martinez Somalo from the position of Camerlengo of the Roman Catholic Church. He was succeeded by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Secretary of State of the Vatican.