Bishop of Terrassa
Salvador Cristau Coll was born in Barcelona on April 15, 1950. He obtained a degree in Civil Law from the University of Barcelona (1972). He subsequently pursued ecclesiastical studies at the Major Seminary of Toledo, earning a Bachelor's degree in Theology from the Faculty of Theology of Northern Spain (Burgos campus). He was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of Toledo on October 12, 1980. His priestly ministry has been carried out within the dioceses of Toledo, Barcelona, and Tarrasa. Salvador Cristau served as parochial vicar at the "El Buen Pastor" (1980–1981) and "Santos Justo y Pastor" (1981–1984) parishes, and as parish administrator at "Santa Leocadia" (1984–1985) in the Diocese of Toledo. Additionally, he served as a notary for the Ecclesiastical Tribunal (1980–1985) and as a formator at the "Santa Leocadia" seminary for adult vocations (1984–1985). On January 14, 1985, he was incardinated into the Archdiocese of Barcelona, where he served as parochial vicar at "San Vicente" in Mollet del Vallés (1985–1990) and at the "Ntra. Sra. de Montserrat" parish (1990–1998); as a collaborator with the faculties of a parochial vicar at the "Corpus Christi" parish (1998–1999); as pastor of "Ntra. Sra. de la Merced" (1999–2004); and as parish administrator of "San Jaime" (2000). He combined this pastoral work with roles such as official of the Diocesan Curia (1989); formator (1991–1994), vice-rector (1994–1997), and spiritual director (1997–1998) of the Diocesan Major Seminary; episcopal delegate for administrative matrimonial matters in the Diocesan Curia (1999–2000); Promoter of Justice at the Ecclesiastical Tribunal (2000–2001); archpriest of the Cathedral (2001); and secretary-chancellor of the Barcelona Curia (2001–2004). Following the establishment of the Diocese of Tarrasa in 2004, he was incardinated into that diocese and appointed Vicar General. Furthermore, he served as rector of the Tarrasa Cathedral (2004–2006) and, in 2006, as rector of the Diocesan Major Seminary. On May 18, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of Tarrasa; he took office on June 26 of that same year. Msgr. Cristau led the Diocese of Tarrasa as diocesan administrator from June 15, 2021, until December 3, 2021, when Pope Francis appointed Msgr. Salvador Cristau Coll as Bishop of Tarrasa. He took possession of the diocese on February 5, 2022.