Luis Aponte Martínez
| Luis Aponte Martínez | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal-Archbishop Emeritus of San Juan | |
| See | San Juan (emeritus) |
| Enthroned | January 15, 1965 – March 26, 1999 |
| Predecessor | James Peter Davis |
| Successor | Roberto González Nieves, OFM |
| Other posts | Previously Bishop of Ponce |
| Orders | |
| Created Cardinal | March 5, 1973 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 4, 1922 Lajas, Puerto Rico |
Luis Aponte Martínez (born August 4, 1922) is the only Puerto Rican ever to be elevated to a cardinal of the Catholic Church, and for 34 years was the Archbishop of San Juan. He was a cardinal elector in the two conclaves of 1978.
Contents |
[edit] Early life and education
| Styles of Luis Aponte Martínez |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | San Juan (Emeritus) |
Aponte Martínez was born in the town of Lajas, Puerto Rico.[1][2] 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 he served as an altar boy for many years in his town's parish 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 there he went to Boston, Massachusetts where he studied in the Seminary of Saint John.[1] He also attended Boston College and earned his Doctorate from the Seminary of Saint Leo of Florida.
[edit] Priesthood and Episcopacy
Aponte was ordained a priest in San German, Puerto Rico on April 10, 1950.[1][2] 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 (after Juan Alejo de Arizmendi) to be consecrated Bishop, being appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ponce, Puerto Rico by Pope John XXIII. On April 16, 1963 he was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Ponce, and on November 18, 1963 succeeded as Bishop of Ponce. On November 4, 1964, he became the Archbishop of San Juan.[1][2]
[edit] Cardinal
On March 5, 1973,[1][2] Pope Paul VI honored Aponte Martínez by making him Cardinal-Priest 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 President of the Puerto Rican Episcopal Conference[1] and also of the Latin American Episcopal Conference.
In 1984, Aponte 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, Unde hoc mihi.
[edit] Episcopal succession
| Episcopal lineage | |
| Consecrated by: | Francis Spellman |
| Consecrator of | |
|---|---|
| Bishop | Date of consecration |
| Miguel Rodriguez Rodriguez | March 23, 1974 |
| Ulises Aurelio Casiano Vargas | April 30, 1976 |
| Héctor Manuel Rivera Pérez | August 17, 1979 |
| Enrique Manuel Hernández Rivera | August 17, 1979 |
| Hermín Negrón Santana | September 7, 1981 |
| Ruben Antonio González Medina | February 4, 2001 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Peter Davis |
Archbishop of San Juan 1965-1999 |
Succeeded by Roberto González Nieves, O.F.M. |
