Archbishop of Barcelona
Juan José Omella Omella, metropolitan Archbishop of Barcelona (Spain), was born in Cretas on 21 April 1946. He completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the seminary of Zaragoza and at the personal formation centre of the White Fathers in Leuven and in Jerusalem. His priestly ordination took place on 20 September 1970. In his priestly ministry, he worked as deputy parish priest and parish priest between 1990 and 1996, and as episcopal vicar for the Diocese of Zaragoza. He was a missionary in Zaire for one year. On 15 July 1996 he was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Zaragoza. On 29 October 1999 he was appointed as Bishop of Barbastro-Monzón. From 24 August 2001 to 19 December 2003 he served as Apostolic Administrator of Huesca and from 19 October 2001 to 19 December 2003, as Apostolic Administrator of Jaca. On 8 April 2004 he was appointed Bishop of Calahorra and La Calzada-Logrorio. On 6 November 2014, the Holy See published his appointment as member of the Congregation for Bishops. On 26 December he became Archbishop of Barcelona. He served as member of the Episcopal commission for social pastoral ministry until 1996, and as president from 2002 to 2008, and again from 2014 to 2017. He has also been a member of the Episcopal Pastoral Commission (1996-1999), and the Commission for the Lay Apostolate (1999-2002 / 2008-2011). In the CEE he has been a member of the Executive Committee since 14 March 2017. Since 3 March 2020, he has been President of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference.