Cistercian named archbishop of Barcelona
November 12, 2026
Pope Leo XIV appointed Bishop Octavi Vilá Mayo, O. Cist., as the new archbishop of Barcelona, one of Spain’s most prominent sees.
Bishop Vilá, 64, succeeds Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, who turned 80 in April. Cardinal Omella and his three predecessors were created cardinals during their years as archbishop of Barcelona.
Bishop Vilá was a late vocation: following work as an archivist, he entered the novitiate of the Cistercian Monastery of Poblet in 2006. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2015 and elected abbot the same year. Pope Francis named him bishop of Girona in 2024.
The Pillar reported:
One of the principal challenges in his new role was a lack of priestly manpower. The number of priests in the diocese reportedly fell by 20% from 2020 to 2025, leaving roughly 100 priests covering around 300 parishes. Vilà saw empowerment of the laity as part of the solution, inspired by Vatican Council II, whose documents he frequently cites. He viewed this as a way of freeing priests to focus on their core ministry, which he defined not only as celebrating Mass but also visiting the sick and housebound.
Assessments of Vilà’s effectiveness in Girona also differed. Critics accused him of yielding too easily to pressure from local politicians and interest groups in public disputes involving the Church. Admirers appreciated the spirituality he brought to the role, his capacity for listening, his decision to appoint women to senior diocesan roles, and his support for dialogue amid the conflict over Catalan independence.
The Archdiocese of Barcelona has 1,675,810 Catholics, 211 parishes, 138 non-parish churches, 286 diocesan priests, 274 religious priests, and 22 diocesan seminarians, according to the online edition of the Annuario Pontificio.
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Further information:
- Resignations and Appointments (Holy See Press Office, 11/11/26)
- The meteoric rise of Barcelona’s new archbishop ( The Pillar, 11/11/26)
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