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He was born in Valencia
on 24 September 1926. He completed his junior education at the
Jesuit School of Saint Joseph (1946), and studied theology and
philosophy at the Metropolitan Seminary of Valencia (1946-51)
and at the Corpus Christi Royal College in this city (1947-51).
He obtained a licentiate in Canon Law from the University of Salamanca
(1953). He was ordained a priest in Valencia on 29 June1951, was vicar of the Parish of Saint Peter at Tabernes in Valldigna (1953) and was later appointed rector of the Parish of Saint Joseph in this Valencian town (1954). He was subsequently appointed Dean of Tabernes in Valldigna (1964), and Rector of the Parish of Saint Ferran, King, in Valencia (1967). He held offices of diocesan responsibility such as Diocesan Delegate for the Family (1967), Episcopal Delegate for the Clergy (1968) and Director of the Diocesan Convictum for deacons (1968). He was appointed Bishop of Tortosa and ordained on 6 June 1969. As Bishop of Tortosa, he participated in the Spanish Bishops' Conference with responsibilities as member of the Episcopal Commission for the Clergy (1972-75), Missions (1972-78), Mass Media (1975-78) and Lay Apostolate (1981-84). He was President of the Episcopal Sub-commission for the Family (1977) and President of the Episcopal Commission for Seminaries and Universities (1984). Since then, he has belonged to the Executive Committee and to the Permanent Commission of the Bishops' Conference. He was appointed Archbishop of Barcelona on 23 March 1990 and was installed on 27 May of the same year. On 28 January 1999, he was granted de Doctorate Honoris Causa by the Theology School, San Vicente Ferrer, in Valencia He was created Cardinal by his Holiness John Paul II on 26 November 1994 with the title of S. Mariae Consolatricis in Regione Tiburtina. He belongs to the Cardinals' Council for the study of the organizational and economic matters of the Holy See (1995), to the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Pontificial Council for Justice and Peace (1994) and to the Prefecture for Economic Matters of the Holy See (2000). |
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