Cardinal Julián Herranz Casado is a Spanish Opus Dei prelate and former president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts who is recognized as one of the Church’s foremost experts in canon law.

Born on March 31, 1930, in Baena, Spain, he joined Opus Dei in 1949 and was ordained priest on August 7, 1955. Herranz’s academic background is impressive, with doctorates in medicine from the Universities of Barcelona and Navarra, as well as a degree in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

His career in the Church began with teaching canon law at the University of Navarra and traveling worldwide for Opus Dei. In 1960, he started working for the Roman Curia, where he served as an assistant during the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965).

Herranz’s expertise in canon law led to his appointment as Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for the Authentic Interpretation of the Code of Canon Law in 1984.

On December 15, 1990, Pope John Paul II appointed Herranz as titular bishop of Vertara, and he received his episcopal consecration on January 6, 1991. His role in the Vatican continued to grow, and on December 19, 1994, he was elevated to archbishop and appointed President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.

In 2003 Pope John Paul II created him Cardinal-Deacon of S. Eugenio. As a cardinal, he has been a member of several important Vatican congregations and councils, including the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and the Pontifical Council for the Laity.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Herranz has been recognized as one of the foremost experts in canon law. He served as president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts until February 15, 2007. His influence extended beyond his official roles, as he was believed to be part of a small group of cardinals who led the Curia during times when Pope John Paul II was incapacitated by illness.

Cardinal Herranz has served under six popes, from John XXIII to Francis. He participated in the 2005 papal conclave and, although not considered a strong candidate for the papacy himself, was viewed as a potential “kingmaker” due to his insider knowledge and influence.

In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Cardinal Herranz to chair a commission investigating the Vatileaks scandal. Along with Cardinals Jozef Tomko and Salvatore De Giorgi, he conducted a thorough internal investigation that went beyond the narrow criminal scope of the leaks.

The commission interviewed numerous Vatican officials, including other cardinals, and had broad authority to gather information. They compiled their findings into a comprehensive 300-page dossier, which was submitted directly to Pope Benedict XVI on December 17, 2012. This report was highly confidential, with its full contents known only to the Pope and the investigating cardinals.

Herranz’s investigation reportedly uncovered evidence of corruption, power struggles, and potential blackmail within the Vatican. Some sources claimed the report revealed the existence of factions and lobbies within the Roman Curia, including one allegedly “united by sexual orientation.” However, Herranz himself refrained from publicly discussing the specifics of the report, stating that the Pope was “the only person we have reported to on this question.”

On June 12, 2014, Pope Francis promoted Herranz from cardinal-deacon to cardinal-priest.

In June 2023, Herranz published “Two Popes,” his memoirs of working with Popes Benedict XVI and Francis.

Throughout his career, Cardinal Julián Herranz Casado has remained a dedicated member of Opus Dei and has consistently defended the organization, emphasizing its focus on spreading the Gospel.