Father José Antonio Martorell Pou was born in Inca, Mallorca, on August 22, 1939. He was the son of Francisco and Francisca. He was baptized on August 28, 1939, in the parish church of Santa María la Mayor in Inca, and confirmed on May 7, 1940. He received the Franciscan habit on August 8, 1954 in La Porciúncula and after an year of Novitiate, at the Convent of San Antonio de Padua in Artá. He made his temporary profession on August 25, 1955 and his solemn profession on October 4, 1961 in Rome where he also received Minor Orders, the Subdiaconate on October 27, 1963 and the Diaconate in February 1964. On March 14, 1964 he was ordained a priest by Cardinal Luis Traglia at the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
He studied Humanities at Porciúncula and Inca, earning his Higher Baccalaureate from the Palma Institute on September 28, 1957. He received a Licentiate in Philosophy on June 20, 1960, and a Licentiate in Theology on June 15, 1964, both from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
After his ordination in 1964, he resided at La Porciúncula until 1970, serving as a professor of philosophy for the Franciscan clergy. In 1970, he was assigned to the United States and appointed vicar of Saint Francis Parish in Waco, Texas. From 1977 to 1997, he served as pastor of the parish, dedicating himself to meeting the spiritual and material needs of his parishioners. He carried out major renovations of the parish buildings and oversaw new construction for the Pastoral and Catechetical Center as well as facilities for social assistance. At the 1977 Provincial Congregation, he was elected Councilor of the USA Commissariat and Regional Superior of Texas. At the 1981 Provincial Chapter, he was elected Commissioner of the USA Commissariat, a position he held until 1997, when he returned to Spain. During the 1997 Chapter, he was appointed Provincial Councilor and Local Minister of the Porciúncula, as well as the Director of the College.
At the Provincial Congregation of 2001, he was appointed Provincial Treasurer, member of the CAE and the Porziuncola Project Commission, member of the CODE, and Rector of the Porziuncola Church. At the Provincial Congregation of 2005, he was assigned to the Fraternity of Saint Francis – Ramon Llull School in Inca as Local Minister and was responsible for the School’s Pastoral Care. In December 2008, he was called to Rome as General Councilor. There, he oversaw the area of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation, and was also responsible for weddings and ceremonies at the Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian. At the end of 2010, he was appointed General Secretary, and after the General Chapter of 2013, he returned to Mallorca and was appointed Local Minister of Porziuncola and Parish Priest of the Parish of Santa Maria Assumpta in Badies. He was also in charge of the Provincial Infirmary staff, after the death of Fr. Guillermo Bauzá.
At the Provincial Chapter of 2017, he was appointed Provincial Secretary, Treasurer of the Fraternity of the Porziuncola, and Rector of the conventual church until the Provincial Chapter of 2021, when, for reasons of age and health, he ceased to hold these positions, remaining in the same fraternity of the Porziuncola. In the early hours of January 20, 2025, he suddenly felt ill and was visited by Sister Death, suffering from heart failure.
His wake and funeral took place on Tuesday, January 21st, at the convent of San Francisco in Inca, and his burial took place on Thursday, January 23rd, at the tomb of our brothers in Inca.