José Saraiva Martins | |
|---|---|
| Prefect Emeritus of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints | |
 Cardinal Saraiva Martins in January 2016 | |
| Church | Latin Church |
| Appointed | 30 May 1998 |
| Term ended | 9 July 2008 |
| Predecessor | Alberto Bovone |
| Successor | Angelo Amato |
| Other post | Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina |
| Previous posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 16 March 1957 by Ettore Cunial |
| Consecration | 2 July 1988 by Agostino Casaroli |
| Created cardinal | 21 February 2001 byPope John Paul II |
| Rank | Cardinal-Bishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1932-01-06)6 January 1932 (age 93) |
| Nationality | Portuguese |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Motto | Veritas in charitate (Truth in charity) |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of José Saraiva Martins | |
|---|---|
| |
| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Palestrina (titular see) |
José Saraiva Martins,C.M.F.GCC (born 6 January 1932) is aPortuguese cardinal of theCatholic Church. He was prefect of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints from 1998 to 2008.
Born in Gagos de Jarmelo inGuarda, Portugal, to Antonio and Maria (née da Natividade Martins) Saraiva, he joined the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly known as theClaretians, and professed hisvows on 22 August 1950. Saraiva Martins wasordained as apriest byArchbishopEttore Cunial on 16 March 1957. He studied at thePontifical Gregorian University and thePontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, where he earned a licentiate and a doctorate (respectively) intheology.
Saraiva Martins taughtmetaphysics for a year inMarino, Italy, then in 1959 came to the RomanClaretianum, where he taught fundamental and sacramental theology for a decade. He becamerector of thePontifical Urbaniana University for three terms (1977–1980, 1980–1983, 1986–1988).
On 26 May 1988, Saraiva Martins was appointed Secretary of theCongregation for Catholic Education andtitular archbishop ofThuburnica. He received hisepiscopal consecration from CardinalAgostino Casaroli, with ArchbishopsJan Pieter Schotte andGiovanni Battista Re serving as co-consecrators, on the following 2 July in the Basilica ofSs. XII Apostoli. On 30 May 1998, he was named Prefect of theCongregation for the Causes of Saints.
Pope John Paul made himCardinal Deacon ofNostra Signora del Sacro Cuore in theconsistory of 21 February 2001.[1] Like all major Vatican officials he lost his position on 2 April 2005 on the death of the pope. He was one of thecardinal electors who participated in the2005 papal conclave that electedPope Benedict XVI, who later confirmed him as prefect on 21 April 2005.
On 9 July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation as prefect to be succeeded byAngelo Amato. On 24 February 2009, he was promoted to the order ofcardinal bishops, with title of thesuburbicarian see of Palestrina.[2] Pope Benedict XVI allowed Martins to remain as Roman Postulator for the Cause forJosé Sánchez del Río, a 14-year-old Mexican youth andCristeros who died a martyr. Martins had conducted the beatification ceremony in Mexico City for the young boy as a stand-in for Pope Benedict XVI. Sanchez del Rio was finally canonized on 16 October 2016 in Rome byPope Francis.[3]
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education 26 May 1988 – 30 May 1998 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | — TITULAR — Titular Archbishop of Thuburnica 26 May 1988 – 21 February 2001 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints 30 May 1998 – 9 July 2008 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cardinal Deacon of Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore 21 February 2001 – 24 February 2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina 24 February 2009 – | Incumbent |
| International | |
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