Archbishop of Sevilla
Josep Àngel Saiz Meneses was born on August 2, 1956, in Sisante (Cuenca). He pursued his initial ecclesiastical studies at the Seminary of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Barcelona. After transferring to the Seminary of Toledo, he was ordained a priest on July 15, 1984, for the Primatial Archdiocese of Spain. In 1989, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Barcelona and obtained a Licentiate in Theology from the Faculty of Theology of Catalonia. He held the following positions: Parochial Vicar and Parish Priest in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Toledo (1984–1989); in Barcelona, he served as Parochial Vicar of Sant Andreu de Palomar (1989–1992), Rector of Virgen del Rosario in Cerdanyola del Vallés (1992), chaplain for university pastoral care at the Autonomous University of Bellaterra (1992), Advisor to the *Cursillos de Cristiandad* Movement (1994–1996), and Secretary General and Chancellor of the Curia (2000–2001). On October 30, 2001, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Selemsele and Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona, and was consecrated on December 15 of that year. He became the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Terrassa on June 15, 2004. Within the Spanish Episcopal Conference, he served as a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate of the Laity (2002–2017), the Commission for Education and Catechesis (2002–2005), and the Commission for Consecrated Life (2005–2008); as President of the Commission for Seminaries and Universities (2008–2014); and as a member of the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care (2017–2020). Since March 2020, he has been a member of the Executive Committee and the Permanent Commission. José Ángel Saiz Meneses was born in Sisante (Cuenca) on August 2, 1956. He entered the *Nuestra Señora de Montalegre* Minor Seminary in Barcelona in 1968. Subsequently, he studied Psychology at the University of Barcelona between 1975 and 1977. He then pursued studies in Philosophy, Spirituality, and Theology at the Major Seminary of Toledo (1977–1984) and was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of Toledo on July 15, 1984. That same year, he obtained a Baccalaureate in Theology from the Faculty of Theology of Burgos. Msgr. Saiz Meneses, Archbishop of Seville. In the Archdiocese of Toledo, he held several posts: first as rector in Los Alares and Anchuras de los Montes (1984–1985) and later as vicar in Illescas (1986–1989). During the 1985–1986 academic year, he served as a military chaplain at the hospital in Valladolid. Among his other roles in Toledo, he served as the area chaplain for the Teams of Our Lady (1986–1989) and the Movement of Christian Teachers and Professors (1986–1989), as well as a religion teacher at the La Sagra Vocational Training School in Illescas (1986–1989). In 1989, he returned to Barcelona and was appointed vicar of the Sant Andreu del Palomar parish; in 1992, he became pastor of the Church of the Virgin of the Rosary in Cerdanyola and head of University Pastoral Care at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. That same year (1992), he was appointed head of SAFOR (Religious Assistance and Formation Service) at the Autonomous University of Barcelona and head of the CCUC (Christian Center for University Students of Cerdanyola del Vallès). In 1995, he was appointed Diocesan Chaplain for the Cursillos de Cristiandad movement. He obtained his licentiate degree from the Faculty of Theology of Catalonia in 1993 and pursued doctoral studies at the same faculty. On May 6, 2000, he was appointed Secretary General and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, and on April 10, 2001, a member of the College of Consultors for the same archdiocese. On October 30, 2001, he was named Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona and was consecrated in the Cathedral on December 15 of that year. On June 15, 2004, he was appointed the first bishop of the newly established Diocese of Terrassa, as well as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Barcelona and the new Diocese of Sant Feliu de Llobregat. On July 25, he formally took office at the Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Spirit in Terrassa. On April 17, 2021, Msgr. Saiz Meneses was appointed Archbishop of Seville, and on June 12, 2021, he took possession of the Archdiocese of Seville. On April 30, 2022, Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, and on November 25, 2023, his appointment as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life was announced. Within the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE), he has been a member of the Executive Commission since March 2020, having been re-elected to this post during the plenary session of March 2024. He also serves on the Permanent Commission. He was a member of the Episcopal Commission for the Lay Apostolate and the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care starting in March 2017. Previously, he served as president of the Commission for Seminaries and Universities. Furthermore, he was a member of the Commission for Education and Catechesis from 2002 to 2005, and a member of the Commission for Consecrated Life from 2005 to 2008.