Born in Barcelona on 1 October 1909 in the bosom of an industrial bourgeoisie family passionate about education and fine arts.

In 1928 he graduated in Philosophy and Literature earning an Extraordinary Degree Prize, and a degree in Law (which he took as a free student) at University of Barcelona.

In October 1928 he joined the Society of Jesus and did his religious training in Gandia. In 1930 he moved to Veruela to complete his Jesuit studies of humanities.

When Spain's Second Republic banned the Society of Jesus they moved to Italy. He studied Philosophy at Avigliana (Turin) 1933-1936, and Theology at San Remo 1936-1939.

Following the Spanish Civil War in 1940 he returned to Spain to complete his Theology studies in Oña (Burgos). In the same year he was ordained as a priest.

From 1941-1947 he was assigned to the Montisión School in Majorca where he taught Literature, History, and Philosophy.

At the end of 1947 he returned definitively to Italy until his retirement in 1980. In 1951 he was appointed as Editor of the prestigious journal Archivum Historicum Societatis Iesu; the following year he began teaching Modern History classes at the School of Ecclesiastical History at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he gained tenure in 1955. He was also Director of the Society of Jesus’ Institute of History from 1954 to 1957.

THE WORK

The dedication of Professor Batllori is so extraordinarily prolific that his Complete Works (currently in publication) consists of 20 volumes not including his Magno Epistolario Borgiano which he worked upon for the last few years, or the now published edition of the archive of Cardinal Vidal i Barraquer which currently resides in the Abbey of Montserrat.

The extensive chronology which covers this research may give a full perspective of the wide range of characters to whom he has dedicated his efforts, ranging from R.Llull and Arnau de Vilanova to Balmes or Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer, including Erasmus and Vives, the Borgia, Gracián or the Jesuits evicted by order of Carlos III (Esteban de Arteaga, F. Gustà, Hervás y Panduro, etc.).

Amidst this enormous diversity and wide chronological spectrum Catalan culture on the one hand, and the Society of Jesus on the other act in tandem or in reference to this work which follows the milestones of Modernity through its most notable figures.

SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS TO WHICH HE BELONGS:

-1942: Reial Acadèmia de Bones Lletres de Barcelona (Royal Academy of Literature of Barcelona).

-1949: The National Academy of History, Buenos Aires and later of all History Academies in Latin America.

-1951: Institut d'Estudis Catalans (Institute of Catalan Studies)

-1956-70: Comité Español de Ciencias Históricas (Spanish Committee for Historical Sciences).

-1958: Real Academia de la Historia de Madrid (Royal Academy of History of Madrid).

-1960: Accademia Pontaniana in Naples.

-1964-90: Comité de Ciencias Históricas de la Santa Sede (Pontifical Academy of Sciences).

-1970-80: Comité Internacional de Ciencias Históricas (International Committee for Historical Sciences).

-1981-84: President of the Bolivarian Society in Rome.

AWARDS AND DISTINCTIONS:

- Honorary Doctorate Degrees from the following Universities:

- Valencia-General Study (1975)).

- Theology School of Barcelona (1978)

- UNED de Cervera (1993)

- Universitat de les Illes Balears (1994)

- Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (2001)

- Universidad de Alicante, Andorra, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Universidad de Barcelona, Girona, Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, Universidad de Lérida, Universidad Oberta de Cataluña, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Ramón Llull, Rovira i Virgili, Valencia y Vic (2002)

-1928: Extraordinary degree prize for Philosophy and Literature (Universidad de Barcelona).

-1941: Extraordinary degree prize for Doctorate degree (Universidad de Madrid) for his thesis: Francisco Gustá, apologist and critic (Barcelona 1744- Palermo 1861).

-1980: "Lletra d'Or" prize for: A través de la ciència i la cultura (Via Science and Culture) in 1979.

-1982: Creu de Sant Jordi (The Cross of Saint George).

-1984: Gran Cruz de Alfonso X El Sabio (The Great Cross of Alfonso X The Wise).

-1985: “Medalla d'Or” prize from the Generalitat de Catalunya.

-1988: Spanish National History Prize for: Humanismo y Renacimiento: estudios hispano-europeos (Humanism and Renaissance: Hispano-european studies) in 1987.

-1990: Premi d'Honor de les Lletres Catalanes (Catalan Literature Prize).

-1991: Lluís Guarner prize from the Generalitat Valenciana.

-1995: Príncipe de Asturias prize for Social Sciences.

-1996: “Medalla d'Or” prize from the City of Gandia.

-1997: Austrian Honorary Cross for Sciences and Arts.

-1998: “Medalla d'Or” prize from the Govern Balear.

-1998: Fundació Catalana prize for Research.