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Pope Francis Makes Episcopal Appointments in Spain

Announced on October 6, 2020

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Resignation and appointment of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Burgos (Spain)

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Burgos (Spain), presented by the Most Exalted Bishop Fidel Herráez Vegas.

The Holy Father has appointed HE Monsignor Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa Metropolitan Archbishop of Burgos, transferring him from the Diocese of Bilbao.

Curriculum vitae

HE Mons. Mario Iceta Gavicagogeascoa was born on 21 March 1965 in Gernika, Diocese of Bilbao. At the University of Navarra he obtained a Licentiate in Medicine and Surgery and followed courses in Clinical Pathophysiology, obtaining a Doctorate in 1995, with a thesis on Bioethics and Medical Ethics. He followed his philosophical and theological studies at the Faculty of Theology of Navarre and later in the Seminary of Córdoba, obtaining a Baccalaureate in Theology at the Pontifical University of Comillas, Madrid. In Rome, he obtained a licentiate in moral theology (1999) and a doctorate in studies on marriage and the family (2002) from the John Paul II Institute . He also holds a Masters in Banking Management and Credit Entities.

Ordained a priest on July 16, 1994 for the Diocese of Córdoba, he held the following positions: member of a priestly group for various rural parishes; Professor of Liturgy, General Theology, Morals, Bioethics and Music in the San Pelagio Major Seminary ; Parish priest in Almodóvar del Río and in Lucena; Episcopal Vicar; Canon Penitentiary, Canon Archdeacon Treasurer, General Councilor and member of the Board of Directors of the Caja Sur bank, and Vicar General.

On 5 February 2008, he was appointed titular bishop of Alava and auxiliary of Bilbao and received ordination on the following 12 April. On 24 August 2010, he was appointed residential in Bilbao. Within the Spanish Episcopal Conference, he has been a Member of the Executive and Permanent Commission since March 3, 2020. Since 2014 he has been Vice President of the Episcopal Commission for the Apostolate of the Laity and President of the Sub-Commission for the Family and the Defense of Life. He was also a member of the Commission for the Liturgy (2011-2014).

Resignation and appointment of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Zaragoza (Spain)

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Zaragoza (Spain), presented by the Most Exalted Bishop Vicente Jiménez Zamora.

The Holy Father has nominated HE Mgr. Carlos Manuel Escribano Subías as Metropolitan Archbishop of Zaragoza, transferring him from the Diocese of Calahorra y La Calzada-Logroño.

Curriculum vitae

HE Mons. Carlos Manuel Escribano Subías was born in Carballo (La Coruña), Archdiocese of Santiago de Compostela, on August 15, 1964. He entered the Seminary of Lérida and was ordained a priest for Zaragoza on July 14, 1996. He obtained a Licentiate in Moral Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1996.

Incardinated in Zaragoza, he held the following pastoral duties: Parish Vicar of Santa Engracia (1996-2000), Parish Priest of El Sagrado Corazón (2000-2008), Patron of the San Jorge University Foundation (2006-2008), Assistant to the Movimiento Familiar Cristiano (2003-2010), Episcopal Vicar and Professor of the Regional Center for Theological Studies of Aragon (CRETA) (2005-2010), Assistant of the Episcopal Delegation for Family and Life (2006-2010), Assistant of the Asociación Católica de Propagandistas (2007-2010), Parish Priest of Santa Engracia and Patron of the San Valero Foundation (2008-2010).

He was appointed Bishop of Teruel y Albarracín on 20 July 2010 and was consecrated on the following 26 September. On 13 May 2016, he was transferred to Calahorra y La Calzada-Logroño. In the Episcopal Conference from 2020, he is President of the Episcopal Commission for the Laity, the Family, and Life. He is also a member of the Standing Committee. Since 2015 he is National Councilor of Manos Unidas .

Appointment of Auxiliary Bishop of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Barcelona (Spain)

The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Javier Vilanova Pellisa, of the clergy of the Diocese of Tortosa and Rector of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Catalonia, as titular bishop of Empúries and auxiliary of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Barcelona (Spain).

Curriculum vitae

HE Msgr.Javier Vilanova Pellisa was born in La Fatarella, province of Tarragona and Diocese of Tortosa, on 23 September 1973.

He was ordained a priest on November 22, 1998.

He has held the following positions: Parish Vicar of the Madre de Dios del Rosario Parishes (1998-1999) and San Miguel Arcángel (1999-2003); Rector of the parishes of Asunción , San Pedro Apóstol , Inmaculada , Madre de Dios de las Nieves and San Bartolomé y San Lorenzo (2003-2007). He was also Rector of the Parishes Alfara de Carles (2014-2019), Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Raval de Cristo (2016-2019) and San Lorenzo del Pinell de Brai (2019). He was also Delegate for Catechesis and Vocation Ministry (2014-2018); Member of the College of Consultors (2007) and of the Presbyteral Council (2015); Rector of the Seminary of Tortosa (2007) and Spiritual Director of the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Catalonia (2016-2018). Since 2018 he has been Rector of this Seminary.

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