Luis Aponte Martinez The only Puerto Rican ever ordained cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Date of Birth: 04.08.1922 Country: USA

1. Biography of Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez
2. Educational Background
3. Ecclesiastical Career
4. Contributions to the Church
5. Later Years and Legacy

Biography of Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez

Luis Aponte Martinez was born in the city of Lajas, in the diocese of Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was the son of Santiago Evangelista Aponte and Rosa Maria Martinez. Growing up in a large family, his deep religious devotion was evident from an early age. His parents and siblings were devout Catholics, and Aponte Martinez served as an altar boy for many years in the parish church of his hometown. This experience partially inspired him to answer the call to priesthood.

Educational Background

After his primary education, Aponte Martinez studied at the San Juan Seminary in Puerto Rico. From there, he went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he continued his studies at Saint John Seminary. He also attended Boston University and obtained his doctorate from Saint Leo Seminary in Florida. On April 10, 1950, Aponte Martinez was ordained as a Catholic priest in San German, Puerto Rico, by Bishop James Edward McManus of Ponce.

Ecclesiastical Career

Between 1950 and 1960, he served as the head of Catholic schools in the diocese of Ponce, the diocesan secretary, and the chancellor of the Catholic University of Puerto Rico. He also served as a chaplain for the Puerto Rican National Guard. On October 12, 1960, Aponte Martinez became the second Puerto Rican to be ordained as a bishop when he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Ponce by Pope John XXIII. He was consecrated by Cardinal Francis Spellman, the Archbishop of New York, assisted by Archbishop James Peter Davis of San Juan and Bishop Edward John Harper. After serving as a coadjutor bishop and then bishop of Ponce, Aponte Martinez was appointed Archbishop of San Juan on November 4, 1964, upon the recommendation of Cardinal Spellman. On March 5, 1973, he was elevated to cardinal priest with the title of Santa Maria della Providenza a Monteverde by Pope Paul VI.

Contributions to the Church

Cardinal Aponte Martinez was actively involved in some major acquisitions of the Catholic Church in Puerto Rico, including a television and radio station, as well as a weekly newspaper called "El Visitante" (The Visitor). These media outlets were instrumental in spreading the church's viewpoints throughout the island. He also served as the chairman of the board of directors of the Catholic University of Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference. Furthermore, he was the president of the Latin American Episcopal Conference.

Later Years and Legacy

Aponte Martinez retired as the Archbishop of San Juan on March 26, 1999. He participated in the preparations for the Papal Conclave of 2005 but lost his voting rights due to his age. In 2006, he published his memoirs titled "Unde hoc mihi." In 2011, Cardinal Aponte Martinez made headlines for his comments following Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin's public announcement of his homosexuality.

On April 10, 2012, Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez passed away at 4:00 am in the Auxilio Mutuo hospital in San Juan due to cardiovascular and renal complications. The Governor of Puerto Rico, Luis Fortuño, declared a five-day national mourning period in honor of the cardinal's passing, and the mayor of San Juan, Jorge Santini, also announced a five-day mourning period in the capital. Religious leaders in Puerto Rico expressed their condolences and prayed for the cardinal and his family. A funeral Mass was held for the cardinal in the evening of the same day at the Cathedral of San Juan, presided over by Archbishop Roberto González Nieves, OFM.

Aponte Martinez's body was then transported to Lajas, his birthplace, where a Mass was held at the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. The following day, the body was taken to San Germán, where Aponte Martinez was ordained as a priest, and a Mass was celebrated by Bishop Alvaro Corrada-del-Río, SJ. On Friday, April 13, the body was transferred to the Cathedral of Ponce, and on Saturday, April 14, a farewell ceremony took place at the Santa Teresita Church, continuing on Sunday after the daily Mass. On Monday morning, April 16, the body was brought to the Cathedral of San Juan in Old San Juan, where it remained until 3:00 pm. A requiem Mass was then held, led by Cardinal Carlos Amigo Vallejo, OFM, the former Archbishop of Seville, Spain. Finally, Cardinal Luis Aponte Martinez was laid to rest in the cathedral.