Cardinal José Saraiva Martins is a retired Portuguese senior Vatican official who led the Congregation for the Causes of Saints for ten years and is lauded for his contributions to theology.

Born on January 6, 1932, in Gagos do Jarmelo, Portugal, to devout Christian parents, Antonio Saraiva and Maria da Natividade, he joined the Claretian order and was ordained a priest on March 16, 1957. He pursued higher education in theology, earning a licentiate from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

After his ordination, he taught metaphysics at the Claretian seminary in Marino, Italy, for a year before moving to Rome’s Claretianum to teach fundamental and sacramental theology for a decade. He later became a professor of sacramental theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University, where he also served as rector during three separate terms between 1977 and 1988. In addition to his teaching roles, he authored numerous books and scholarly articles.

In 1983, José Saraiva Martins was appointed Special Secretary of the VI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. He was named Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education and titular Archbishop of Thuburnica on May 26, 1988, receiving episcopal ordination on July 2 of that year.

On May 30, 1998, he became Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, a position he held until July 9, 2008.

Pope John Paul II created him a cardinal on February 21, 2001. Cardinal Saraiva Martins participated in the conclave of April 2005 that elected Pope Benedict XVI.

After retiring from his role as prefect in 2008, he was appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina on February 24, 2009.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Saraiva Martins has been recognized for his contributions to theology and his service within the Catholic Church.