Bishop of Mallorca
Sebastià Taltavull Anglada was born in Ciutadella de Menorca (Balearic Islands) on January 28, 1948. In 1959, he entered the Diocesan Seminary of Menorca, where he pursued studies in the humanities, philosophy, and theology. He was ordained a priest on September 23, 1972, after studying at the Faculty of Theology of Catalonia and obtaining a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology. On the very day of his ordination, he was appointed Director of the Monte-Toro Diocesan Spirituality Center (1972–1984) and Diocesan Delegate for Youth (1972–1989). Two years later, he became Rector of the Diocesan Sanctuary of the Virgin of Monte-Toro, Patroness of Menorca (1975–1984). Taltavull was elected Secretary of the first Diocesan Pastoral Council (1973–1977) and Secretary of the Presbyteral Council and College of Consultors (1983–1989). Between 1977 and 1989, he served as Chaplain to the Young Christians Movement, the MUEC "Life Review" groups, and the Scouting movement. He was assigned roles as a formator (1977–1984) and professor of Dogmatic Theology (1977–1994) at both the Seminary and the Diocesan Institute of Theology. He served as Rector of the Diocesan Seminary from 1995 to 2002. In 1984, he was appointed parish priest of San Rafael in Ciutadella, a position he held until 1992, when he was named Chaplain of the San Miguel Catechetical Center (1992–2005). On September 23, 1989, he was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese of Menorca and Moderator of the Curia, roles he held until 2002; that year, he was appointed parish priest of Our Lady of the Rosary (at the Cathedral) and of Saint Francis of Assisi in Ciutadella, and was elected Dean-President of the Chapter and Penitentiary of the Cathedral (2002–2005). In addition to working at the Diocesan Catechesis Secretariat within the departments for adolescent and youth catechesis (1973–1995), he was appointed Diocesan Delegate for Catechesis (1989–1995) and served on the Interdiocesan Catechesis Secretariat of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands (SIC), focusing particularly on catechesis for adolescents, young people, and families. As a chaplain, he worked with the Teams of Our Lady (1988–2005) and dedicated himself to the preparation and training of catechists (1973–1998) and of married couples serving as catechists for family catechesis groups (1998–2005). He was appointed diocesan delegate for Social Communications and Institutional Relations (2002–2005). He served as director of the Secretariat for the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of the Spanish Episcopal Conference from 2005 to 2009. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Barcelona on January 28, 2009, and received episcopal ordination on March 21. On September 19, 2017, his appointment as Bishop of Mallorca was announced; he took possession of the see on November 25. He had previously served as Apostolic Administrator of Mallorca since September 8, 2016.