Javier Martínez (bishop)
Spanish prelate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Francisco Javier Martínez Fernández (born 20 December 1947) is a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church. He was the bishop of Córdoba from 1996 to 2003 and the archbishop of Granada from 2003 to 2023.
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Javier Martínez | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop Emeritus of Granada | |
| |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Granada |
| In office | 15 March 2003 – 1 February 2023 |
| Predecessor | Antonio Cañizares Llovera |
| Successor | José María Gil Tamayo |
| Previous posts | Bishop of Córdoba (1996-2003) Titular Bishop of Voli (1985-1996) Auxiliary Bishop of Madrid (1985-1996) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 3 April 1972 |
| Consecration | 11 May 1985 by Ángel Suquía Goicoechea[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 December 1947 |
Biography
Born in Madrid, Martínez graduated in Biblical theology from the Comillas Pontifical University. He was ordained a priest at the age of 25 on 3 April 1972. He served in the parish of Casarrubuelos in the Community of Madrid. He then joined a seminary in Toledo as a teacher of Christology and introduction to the Bible.[2][3]
In 1979, Martínez enrolled at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. to study Syriac language and literature, and was assistant to the professor from 1981 to 1983. He obtained a Master of Arts degree and then a doctorate in Semitic languages. In 1984 he returned to Spain to teach patristics and theology at a seminary in Madrid.[2][3]
Martínez was named Spain's youngest bishop on 11 May 1985, serving as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Madrid-Alcalá until March 1986. From 15 March 1986 to 15 March 2003 he was the bishop of Córdoba.[2] He was then named archbishop of Granada, succeeding Antonio Cañizares Llovera who had become archbishop of Toledo and primate of all Spain; the succession was effective from 1 June, following Pope John Paul II's visit to Spain.[3]
In December 2007, Martínez became Spain's first archbishop to be taken to court as a defendant in a civil case.[4] In what the judge called a "peculiar and unusual case", he was made to pay €3,750 in damages to the similarly named priest Francisco Javier Martínez Medina for coercion and insults. Martínez Fernández had wanted Martínez Medina to not publish a book on Granada Cathedral that was financed by CajaSur, a bank that Martínez Fernández had been in conflict with.[5]
In the Romanones case in 2014, a man from Granada wrote to Pope Francis about his experience of sexual abuse in the church. Martínez prostrated himself during Mass to ask for forgiveness, and in 2017 was a witness against the alleged abuser, who was acquitted.[4]
In July 2021, Martínez spoke out against Spain's transgender rights bill and euthanasia in the country. He said that the transgender law "turns feelings into a legal category. This isn't the first time that happened. In the 1930s and 40s, the feeling of Aryan supremacy led to millions of deaths when it became law".[6]
After turning 75 years old, Martínez's resignation was accepted and on 1 February 2023 he was succeeded by José María Gil Tamayo.[7]