Cardinal Francisco Álvarez Martínez, Archbishop emeritus of Toledo, Spain, was born on 14 July 1925 in Santa Eulalia de Ferroñes Llanera, Spain. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Oviedo on 11 June 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 13 April 1973 he was appointed Bishop of Tarazona and received episcopal ordination on 3 June. He was named Bishop of Calahorra and La Calzada-Logroño on 20 December 1976 and was transferred to Orihuela-Alicante on 12 May 1989. He was promoted to Archbishop of Toledo on 23 June 1995, and was a member of the Standing Commission and the Executive Committee of the Spanish Episcopal Conference.

From 24 October 2002, Archbishop emeritus of Toledo.

He participated in the conclave of April 2005, which elected Pope Benedict XVI.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by St. John Paul II in the consistory of 21 February 2001, of the Title of S. Maria “Regina Pacis” a Monte Verde (Holy Mary ‘Queen of Peace’ in Monte Verde).

Cardinal Álvarez Martínez died on 5 January 2022.