Juan de Vera was born in the castle at Alzira, Valencia.

[1] After completing his education, he moved to Rome and entered the service of Cardinal Roderic Llançol i de Borja (the future Pope Alexander VI).

[1] Pope Alexander VI made him a cardinal priest in the consistory of 28 September 1500.

[1] He participated in both the papal conclave of September 1503 that elected Pope Pius III and the papal conclave of October 1503 that elected Pope Julius II.

[3] On 7 August 1504 he became prior of the cathedral church of San Pedro de Fraga in Leiria and pastor of Badieles, Zaragoza.