 Born in Ameca, Jalisco, José Salazar López studied at the seminary in Guadalajara and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome before being ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1934.He then did pastoral work in Guadalajara until 1961.During this time, Salazar led the construction of the Conciliar Seminary of Guadalajara, where he later served as a professor and prefect of studies (1934-1944), vice-rector (1944-1950), and rector (1950-1961).