Appointment confirmed by Vatican
The Holy See has officially appointed Bishop Octavi Vilà Mayo, O. Cist., as the new metropolitan archbishop of Barcelona, transferring him from the diocese of Girona. The announcement was made on Wednesday 11th November 2026, the same day Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella's resignation was accepted upon reaching the age of 80 in April 2026, as required under canon law. Vilà, born on 11th December 1961 in Tarragona, will formally take possession of the archdiocese on 19th December 2026 at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross and St. Eulalia. A Mass of inauguration will follow at the Basilica of the Sagrada Família (Holy Family), the city's iconic Roman Catholic church.
Pastoral and political profile
Before entering the Monastery of Santa María de Poblet in 2005 at the age of 43, Vilà worked for over two decades in the newspaper archive of Tarragona and served as secretary and vice-president of the Bibliographic Archive of Santes Creus. He holds a licentiate in geography and history from the University of Barcelona, a diploma in library and information science, and postgraduate qualifications in new information technologies. He made his perpetual vows in 2010 and was ordained a priest on 1st May 2015. Seven months later, he was elected abbot of Poblet, a role he held until 2024. His tenure was marked by declining monastic numbers, from 31 to 20 monks, and controversy over the management of the Populus Alba Foundation, which oversaw a hotel complex linked to the monastery. In 2021, the foundation filed an Employment Regulation File (ERE), resulting in 15 job losses, and failed to repay €77,531.63 in subsidies demanded by the Diputació de Tarragona due to irregularities in VAT deductions and over-financing.
Pope Leo XIV has chosen Friar Octavi Vilà Mayo, a Cistercian monk, former abbot of Poblet and bishop of Girona since April 2024, as the new archbishop of Barcelona.
Despite a relatively short priestly career, just over 11 years, and limited pastoral experience beyond monastic leadership, he was appointed bishop of Girona on 29th February 2024, receiving episcopal ordination on 21st April 2024. He is a member of the Episcopal Commission for Consecrated Life within the Spanish Bishops' Conference.
Political ties and public reaction
Vilà has maintained a public friendship with Carles Puigdemont, former president of the Generalitat. When Vilà was appointed bishop of Girona, Puigdemont said the decision "filled him with joy" and praised the Pope's "intelligent and sensitive" choice. Vilà, in turn, referred to Puigdemont as "President" in a radio interview, affirming their "good friendship." This connection marks a notable shift from the stance of Cardinal Omella, whom Puigdemont openly criticised, particularly after the 2017 funeral for victims of the Rambla attack, when Omella referred to him as a mere regional authority. Puigdemont later wrote in his book M'explico that he hung up on the cardinal in October 2017 after being reminded he was violating the Constitution. The appointment signals a change in tone for the archdiocese, where churchgoers, particularly youth, are predominantly Spanish-speaking and not aligned with nationalist sentiment, a contrast to Vilà’s own political leanings.
What happens next
The diocese of Girona now faces another period without a bishop, having been vacant for over two years before Vilà’s arrival. The appointment of his successor has not yet been announced.
Sources: El Mundo, infovaticana, press.vatican.va, ewtnnews.com, OICEE.
