Luis Cardinal Aponte Martinez (August 4, 1922) born in the town of Lajas, Puerto Rico, was the first Puerto Rican in history to be consecrated Cardinal of the Catholic Church.
Aponte Martinez came from a numerous family. His deep religious devotion came at at an early age. His parents and siblings were devoted Catholics and Aponte Martinez served as an altar boy for many years in his town's parroquial 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. Then, he went to Brighton, Mass. where he studied in the Seminary of Saint John . He also attended the University of Boston in Massachusetts. Aponte Martinez earned his Doctorate degree from the Seminary of Saint Leo of Florida.
Aponte Martinez became an ordinated priest in San German, Puerto Rico in 1950. From 1950 through 1960, he became the superintendent of the Catholic Schools for the diocesan of Ponce and chancellor of the Universidad Catolica de Puerto Rico (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 to be consecrated Bishop, having been appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The first Puerto Rican to have become a Bishop was Juan Alejo de Arizmendi . In 1964, Aponte Martinez became the Archbishop of San Juan under the recommendation of Cardinal Francis Spellman of New York.
On March 5, 1973, Pope Paul VI honored Aponte Martinez by making him a Cardinal. Pope Paul VI, bestowed on him the title of "S. 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 also the President of the Latin American Episcopal Conference.
In 1984, Aponte Martinez helped coordinate and was among the many dignataries who greeted Pope John Paul II, upon his Holiness' visit to Puerto Rico.
Aponte Martinez was actively involved in some of the church's major adquisitions 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 Martinez, retired as Archbishop of San Juan in 1999.
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