Religious life in Valencia in the first third of the 20th century was marked, as in all of Spain, by political crises and social upheaval, in the midst of which many religious, educational and social works were promoted, such as the Catholic unions in the industry and agriculture.

The constant opposition of one sector of the social forces to the Church and the values it represented became more acute after the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931 culminated in religious persecution, particularly cruel in the first months of the Civil War (1936-1939), which led to the martyrdom of countless priests, men and women religious and lay people from Valencia, Castellón and Alicante, whose testimony of Jesus Christ has been recognized by the Church with the beatification of the secular martyr Vicente Vilar David (+1937), the Mother Ángeles Lloret Martí and her Sisters of the Christian Doctrine (+1936) and the priest José Aparicio Sanz and 232 martyr companions, monks and laymen, beatified by Pope John Paul II on 11 March, 2001.

After the Civil War, the Valencian dioceses undertook an arduous work of material and spiritual reconstruction, contributing to the reconciliation among citizens, and to the social and cultural progress of the population through the promotion of housing and cooperatives, the creation of primary, secondary and professional schools and other initiatives.

In addition to the construction of new seminaries, the creation of parishes to attend the rapid growth of cities was added, together with the activity of Caritas in all of them to attend to those most in need. The secular apostolate was organized in various ways, with the rise of Catholic Action; which achievements were led by archbishop Mr. Marcelino Olaechea y Loizaga (1946-1966) in Valencia.

In 1959 a new delimitation of the diocesan limits took place, appearing the new denominations of the dioceses of Segorbe-Castellón and Orihuela-Alicante.

The celebration of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council (1962-1965) and with the political change towards a more complete democracy, started in 1975 with the reign of Juan Carlos I, and the new socio-cultural expressions led to a rethinking of the religious life which was synthesized in Diocesan Synods such as the one of Valencia (1987), presided over by archbishop Mr. Miguel Roca Cabanellas (1978-1992).

The education of the clergy and the faithful received a new boost with the erection in 1974 of the Faculty of Theology “San Vicente Ferrer” of Valencia, initiated by the archbishop Servant of God Mr. José María García Lahiguera (1969-1978) and the Diocesan Institute of Religious Sciences, founded by archbishop Roca which has offices throughout the archdiocese of Valencia.

On 8 November 1982, Valencia received the visit of Pope John Paul II, in a stage of his visit to Spain. He ordained one hundred and fifty priests in the Holy Mass celebrated at the Alameda Avenue.