Archbishop Enrique Benavent Vidal

Enrique Benavent Vidal is Archbishop of Valencia, Spain. He was born on 25 April 1959 in Quatretonda, Valencia. He completed ecclesiastical studies at the diocesan seminary of Moncada, Valencia, attending classes at the San Vicente Ferrer Faculty of Theology, where he obtained a licentiate in theology in 1986. He is a doctor of theology, having received the degree in 1993 from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He received priestly ordination in Valencia from John Paul II on 8 November 1982, during the Pope's first apostolic visit to Spain. In his priestly ministry he served as assistant priest of the parish of San Roque and San Sebastián in Alcoy, in the province of Alicante and Archdiocese of Valencia, and as a religion teacher at the institute from 1982 to 1985; formator at the major seminary of Moncada, Valencia, and professor of theological synthesis for deacons from 1985 to 1990; and episcopal delegate for vocations pastoral care from 1993 to 1997. During three years, from 1990 to 1993, he moved to Rome for doctoral studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University. He has been professor of dogmatic theology at the San Vicente Ferrer Faculty of Theology in Valencia since 1993; professor in the Valencia section of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family since 1994; director of Colegio Mayor S. Juan de Ribera in Burjassot-Valencia since 1999; dean-president of the San Vicente Ferrer Faculty of Theology in Valencia since 2004; and director of the diocese section of the same faculty since 2001. Since 2003 he has also been a member of the presbyteral council. He was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Valencia on 8 November 2004. On 17 May 2013 Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Tortosa. On 10 October 2022, Archbishop Enrique Benavent Vidal was appointed Archbishop of Valencia, and he took possession on 10 December 2022. He succeeded Cardinal Antonio Cañizares in the office.