Christian World | Pope Leo XIV accepted Cardinal Juan José Omella's resignation and named Girona Bishop Octavi Vilà, a Cistercian monk, as the new archbishop of Barcelona

ACW | November 12, 2026 — Pope Leo XIV has named Fra Octavi Vilà, the bishop of Girona, as archbishop of Barcelona, the Archdiocese of Barcelona said on Wednesday.

The decision was announced by the apostolic nunciature in Spain and Andorra and made public in Rome at noon, the archdiocese said. The pope also accepted the resignation of Cardinal Juan José Omella from the pastoral government of the archdiocese.

Vilà's ministry in Barcelona will begin on Saturday, Dec. 19, the archdiocese said, adding that more details would follow.

Vilà, 64, was born in Tarragona, the Catalan outlet Catalunya Religió reported. He entered the Cistercian monastery of Poblet in 2005, was ordained a priest and elected its abbot in 2015, and was named bishop of Girona by Pope Francis in February 2024.

Omella had led the archdiocese since December 2015 and submitted his resignation on turning 75 in 2021, Catalunya Religió said. He served as president of the Spanish Episcopal Conference from 2020 to 2024.

Background: The apostolic nuncio to Spain had led consultations on Omella's successor, and Vilà had been the name gaining most support since Oct. 6, Catalunya Religió reported.

Why it matters: Catalunya Religió described Vilà as a bridge-builder who kept ties with the royal household, the Spanish and Catalan governments and politicians across the spectrum, and who took a dialogue-oriented stance during Catalonia's independence push.

ACW will continue to follow this story.

Sources: Archdiocese of Barcelona — Lleó XIV nomena fra Octavi Vilà nou arquebisbe de Barcelona (in Catalan); Catalunya Religió — Fra Octavi Vilà, nou arquebisbe de Barcelona (in Catalan)

Photo: Vatican Media (via Archdiocese of Barcelona)