José Tolentino de Mendonça was born in Madeira (Portugal) in 1965. Ordained as a priest in 1990, he obtained a doctorate in biblical theology in 2004. For more than two decades he worked at the Catholic University of Portugal as university chaplain, lecturer, Director of the Study Center of the Faculty of Theology, Director of the Faculty of Theology and Vice-Rector of the University. He was also the first Director of the Department for Pastoral Care of Culture of Portugal and Consultor of the Pontifical Council for Culture. He is the author of both theological and literary texts. Appointed Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church by Pope Francis, he was ordained bishop in July 2018 and created Cardinal in the Consistory of 5 October 2019. Since September 2022 he has been Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.