Born in Gagos de Jarmelo in
Guarda, Portugal, to Antonio and Maria (née da Natividade Martins) Saraiva, he joined the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, commonly known as the
Claretians, and professed his
vows on 22 August 1950. Saraiva Martins was
ordained as a
priest by
Archbishop Ettore Cunial on 16 March 1957. He studied at the
Pontifical Gregorian University and the
Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, where he earned a licentiate and a doctorate (respectively) in
theology. Saraiva Martins taught
metaphysics for a year in
Marino, Italy, then in 1959 came to the Roman
Claretianum, where he taught fundamental and sacramental theology for a decade. He became
rector of the
Pontifical Urbaniana University for three terms (1977–1980, 1980–1983, 1986–1988). On 26 May 1988, Saraiva Martins was appointed Secretary of the
Congregation for Catholic Education and
titular archbishop of
Thuburnica. He received his
episcopal consecration from Cardinal
Agostino Casaroli, with Archbishops
Jan Pieter Schotte and
Giovanni Battista Re serving as co-consecrators, on the following 2 July in the Basilica of
Ss. XII Apostoli. On 30 May 1998, he was named Prefect of the
Congregation for the Causes of Saints. Pope John Paul made him
Cardinal Deacon of
Nostra Signora del Sacro Cuore in the
consistory of 21 February 2001. Like all major Vatican officials he lost his position on 2 April 2005 on the death of the pope. He was one of the
cardinal electors who participated in the
2005 papal conclave that elected
Pope Benedict XVI, who later confirmed him as prefect on 21 April 2005. On 9 July 2008, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation as prefect to be succeeded by
Angelo Amato. On 24 February 2009, he was promoted to the order of
cardinal bishops, with title of the
suburbicarian see of Palestrina. Pope Benedict XVI allowed Martins to remain as Roman Postulator for the Cause for
José Sánchez del Río, a 14-year-old Mexican youth and
Cristeros who died a martyr. Martins had conducted the beatification ceremony in Mexico City for the young boy as a stand-in for Pope Benedict XVI. Sanchez del Rio was finally canonized on 16 October 2016 in Rome by
Pope Francis. == Sources ==