Joseph A. Munitiz was born in Cardiff, Wales, of Basque parentage. A Roman Catholic priest he is a long-standing member of the Society of Jesus. Educated by the Christian Brothers at Liverpool and subsequently at the Junior Seminary at Comillas, Cantabria, Munitiz's multiple courses of study include Heythrop College, Oxon, Campion Hall, Oxford, where he took the degree in Greats (Literae Humaniores), a seminary in Spain, the Pontifical Oriental Institute Rome. He was appointed to the staff of Leuven University with special responsibility for the Series Graeca of Corpus Christianorum (now published by Brepols).