Lluís Martínez Sistach
Encyclopedia
Lluís Cardinal Martínez Sistach (born 29 April 1937 in Barcelona
, Catalonia
, Spain
) is the current Archbishop of Barcelona.
Martínez Sistach is the son of Juan Martínez Puig, a commercial representative, and María Sistach Masllorens, a housewife; they had three children, two girls and Lluís; they resided in the neighborhood of Guinardó, where his two sisters still live. He studied bachillerato at Colegio de la Inmaculada of the Marist Brothers, Barcelona from 1942-1953. He entered the Major Seminary of Barcelona studying there from 1954-1961. He was ordained a priest on 17 September 1961. He left Spain to study in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University
from, 1962-1967 where he earned a doctorate utroque iuris (in both canon and civil law) which he was awarded in 1967; dissertation: "El Derecho de asociación en la Iglesia", published by the Theological Faculty of Catalonia.
In 1987 he was made Titular Bishop
of Aliezira and auxiliary bishop of Barcelona
. He was appointed Bishop
of Tortosa
in 1991. In 1997 he became Archbishop of Tarragona and finally in 2004 Archbishop of Barcelona
.
On 17 October 2007, Pope Benedict XVI
announced that he would make Sistach a Cardinal
. Martinez Sistach was elevated to the College of Cardinals
in the consistory
at St. Peter's Basilica
on 24 November 2007, becoming Cardinal-Priest of San Sebastiano alle Catacombe
.
Cardinal Martínez Sistach, in addition to his duties as Archbishop, is a member of various offices of the Roman Curia
. In May 2008 Pope Benedict named him as a member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
.
On June 12, 2008, Pope Benedict named Cardinal Martínez Sistach as a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
.
Cardinal Martínez Sistach received Pope Benedict when the Pope visits Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela
in 2010; this will be the Pope's first visit to Barcelona as Pope and his second visit to Spain. While in Barcelona he will consecrate the Sagrada Familia
Church; in Santiago de Compostela he will attend the Jacobeo Holy Year. This is his first papal visit to either of these places. Previously he had visited Spain in July 2006 to attend the Fifth World Meeting of Families in Valencia. The Pope will visit Spain again for a third time in August 2011 for the 2011 XXVI World Youth Day
in Madrid.
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) is the current Archbishop of Barcelona.
Martínez Sistach is the son of Juan Martínez Puig, a commercial representative, and María Sistach Masllorens, a housewife; they had three children, two girls and Lluís; they resided in the neighborhood of Guinardó, where his two sisters still live. He studied bachillerato at Colegio de la Inmaculada of the Marist Brothers, Barcelona from 1942-1953. He entered the Major Seminary of Barcelona studying there from 1954-1961. He was ordained a priest on 17 September 1961. He left Spain to study in Rome at the Pontifical Lateran University
Pontifical Lateran University
The Pontifical Lateran University is a university by pontifical right based in Rome, Italy. The university also hosts the central session of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family...
from, 1962-1967 where he earned a doctorate utroque iuris (in both canon and civil law) which he was awarded in 1967; dissertation: "El Derecho de asociación en la Iglesia", published by the Theological Faculty of Catalonia.
In 1987 he was made Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Aliezira and auxiliary bishop of Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
. He was appointed Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Tortosa
Tortosa
-External links:* *** * * *...
in 1991. In 1997 he became Archbishop of Tarragona and finally in 2004 Archbishop of Barcelona
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Barcelona
The Archdiocese of Barcelona is a Roman Catholic ecclesiastical territory in southeastern Spain and the metropolitan see of the ecclesiastical province of Barcelona which includes the suffragan dioceses of Sant Feliu de Llobregat and Terrassa....
.
On 17 October 2007, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
announced that he would make Sistach a Cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
. Martinez Sistach was elevated to the College of Cardinals
College of Cardinals
The College of Cardinals is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Church.A function of the college is to advise the pope about church matters when he summons them to an ordinary consistory. It also convenes on the death or abdication of a pope as a papal conclave to elect a successor...
in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
at St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
on 24 November 2007, becoming Cardinal-Priest of San Sebastiano alle Catacombe
San Sebastiano fuori le mura
San Sebastiano fuori le mura , or San Sebastiano ad Catacumbas , is a basilica in Rome, central Italy...
.
Cardinal Martínez Sistach, in addition to his duties as Archbishop, is a member of various offices of the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
. In May 2008 Pope Benedict named him as a member of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts
The Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts is part of the Roman Curia. Its work "consists mainly in interpreting the laws of the Church". ....
.
On June 12, 2008, Pope Benedict named Cardinal Martínez Sistach as a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, and as a member of the Pontifical Council for the Laity
Pontifical Council for the Laity
The Pontifical Council for the Laity has the responsibility of assisting the Pope in his dealings with the laity in lay ecclesial movements or individually, and their contributions to the Church. The Cardinal President of the Council is Cardinal Stanisław Ryłko. The Secretary is Bishop Josef...
.
Cardinal Martínez Sistach received Pope Benedict when the Pope visits Barcelona and Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
in 2010; this will be the Pope's first visit to Barcelona as Pope and his second visit to Spain. While in Barcelona he will consecrate the Sagrada Familia
Sagrada Familia
The ' , commonly known as the Sagrada Família, is a large Roman Catholic church in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí...
Church; in Santiago de Compostela he will attend the Jacobeo Holy Year. This is his first papal visit to either of these places. Previously he had visited Spain in July 2006 to attend the Fifth World Meeting of Families in Valencia. The Pope will visit Spain again for a third time in August 2011 for the 2011 XXVI World Youth Day
World Youth Day
World Youth Day is a youth-oriented Catholic Church event. While the event itself celebrates the Catholic faith, the invitation to attend extends to all youth, regardless of religious convictions....
in Madrid.
Episcopal succession
Sources
Biography on the Barcelona Archdiocese web site Data on www.catholic-hierarchy.org web site, at the page http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bgarcgv.html- bio at catholic-pages,com Data on www.gcatholic.com web site, at the page http://www.gcatholic.com/dioceses/diocese/barc0.htm#4479 Data on The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church web site, at the page http://www.fiu.edu/~mirandas/bios2007.htm#Martinez