Octavi Vilà reportedly set to succeed Cardinal Omella in Barcelona
The bishop of Girona, Octavi Vilà, would be the new archbishop of Barcelona replacing Cardinal Juan José Omella, according to sources close to the handover, although the appointment has not yet been officially confirmed.
The bishop of Girona, Octavi Vilà, would be the next archbishop of Barcelona and would replace Cardinal Juan José Omella, who is leaving the post after eleven years at the head of the diocese. The information is based on sources close to the handover and not on an official announcement from the Holy See or the archdiocese.
According to the available information, the announcement would be made at noon on 11 November 2026, through two simultaneous press conferences, one at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Barcelona and another at the Diocese of Girona. The information indicates that the handover would be confirmed provided there are no last-minute changes, a condition that has not been entirely ruled out.
If the appointment is confirmed, Vilà would move from leading the Diocese of Girona to heading the Archdiocese of Barcelona, which would mean leaving the Girona see. So far, neither the Holy See nor the archdiocese has officially validated this move, so the handover remains pending confirmation.
Omella's tenure at the Archdiocese of Barcelona has lasted eleven years, a period during which he has led one of the most important dioceses in Spain. With the announcement expected, the Catalan Church would face a change at the head of its main episcopal see, at a time when the appointment of a new archbishop is being closely watched both within the Catholic community and in the public sphere of Catalonia.
Source: elpais.com
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