College of Cardinals

Biographical notes

[Updated: 09.03.2012]

Notice: the biographical notes are only a working instrument for the press.

He began his pastoral ministry as parish coadjutor, chaplain and as parish priest. He was secretary of the episcopal commission for the Doctrine of the Faith and founder and first president of the Spanish Association of Catechists.

On 6 March 1992 he was appointed Bishop of Avila, and received episcopal ordination on 25 April. Within the Bishops’ Conference of Spain he was a member of various bodies and was president of the Episcopal Commission of Seminaries and the Episcopal Commission of Education.

Since 1995 he has been a member of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and contributed to the compilation of the Spanish-language edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. He also founded the St. Teresa of Jesus Catholic University in Avila (1994-1997). As Bishop he promoted the diocesan synod of 1995. 

On 10 December 1996 he was appointed Archbishop of Granada.

On 24 October 2002 he was appointed Archbishop of Toledo and Primate of Spain.

On 9 December 2008 he was nominated Prefect of the Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.

Created and proclaimed cardinal by Benedict XVI in the consistory fo 24 March 2006, of the Title of San Pancrazio (St. Pancras).

• Congregations: for the Doctrine of Faith; for the Causes of Saints; for Bishops; Evangelization of Peoples;
• Pontifical Commission for Latin America (Counsellor);
• Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses.

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