Adalberto Martínez Flores

Adalberto Martínez Flores (born 8 July 1951) is a Paraguayan Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Asunción since 2022. He has been a bishop since 1997. Flores became the first Paraguayan cardinal in 2022, in a consistory led by Pope Francis.

Biography Adalberto Martínez Flores was born in Asunción, Paraguay, on 8 July 1951. He studied economics at the National University of Asunción for three years and then studied advanced English in Washington, D.C., and then philosophy at Oblate College in San Antonio, Texas. In 1977, he moved to Frascati to study at the International School for Priests of the Focolare Movement. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Lateran University in 1981. He was ordained a priest on 24 August 1985 by Seán O'Malley, then bishop coadjutor of St. Thomas. On 19 February 2007, he was transferred to the Diocese of San Pedro and on 14 March 2012 appointed to the Military Ordinariate of Paraguay. On 23 July 2018, he was transferred to Villarrica del Espíritu Santo while continuing as apostolic administrator of the Military Ordinariate.

On 17 February 2022, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop of Asunción.

On 27 August 2022, Pope Francis made him a cardinal priest, assigning him the title of San Giovanni a Porta Latina. He participated as a cardinal elector in the 2025 papal conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV.