Fr. José Gerardo Cárdenas Jiménez, L.C., was born on July 1, 1957, in Monterrey, Mexico. He began his novitiate on September 15, 1974, in Orange, Connecticut, United States. He made his perpetual profession on December 22, 1982, and was ordained a priest on December 24, 1985, in Rome. In 1986, he collaborated in the founding of the Legion of Christ in Brazil. From 1987 to 1990, he served as instructor of novices at the Novitiate in Brazil. From 1991 to 2001, he served as assistant to the territorial director for South America.

From 2002 to 2012, he was territorial director of Chile and Argentina. He was also territorial administrator of Brazil.

He was elected general administrator of the Legionaries of Christ at the 2014 General Chapter and reelected to that position at the 2020 General Chapter.