Cardinal Francisco Álvarez Martínez, Archbishop emeritus of Toledo, Spain, was born on July 14, 1925 in Santa Eulalia de Ferroñes Llanera, Spain. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Oviedo on June 11, 1950 and holds a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of Comillas, Madrid.
He was personal secretary to Archbishop Lauzurica y Torralba and did parish work in the Corredoría neighbourhood. He was later chancellor and secretary of the Archdiocesan Curia and also served as chaplain to university students of the Teresian Institute.
On April 13, 1973 he was appointed Bishop of Tarazona and received episcopal ordination on June 3. He was named Bishop of Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño on December 20, 1976 and was transferred to Orihuela-Alicante on May 12, 1989. He was promoted to Archbishop of Toledo on June 23, 1995, and was a member of the Standing Commission and the Executive Committee of the Spanish Episcopal Conference.
Archbishop emeritus of Toledo, October 24, 2002.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by John Paul II in the consistory of February 21, 2001, of the Title of S. Maria "Regina Pacis" a Monte Verde (Holy Mary ‘Queen of Peace’ in Monte Verde).
