Papal surgery creates delay in archbishop succession
The upcoming surgery of Pope Lleó XIV this week has introduced new uncertainty into the timeline for the succession of Cardinal Joan Josep Omella as Archbishop of Barcelona. The Vatican has not yet confirmed any appointment, and it remains unclear whether the Pope has signed off on the decision. According to several specialist media outlets, the expected announcement, possibly before the end of October, may now be delayed due to the Pope’s health. He is scheduled to be admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on Tuesday 13 October for surgery to remove a pulmonary nodule detected during a routine medical check-up. The lesion is reported to be in a very early stage and well-localised, with the Pope expected to require about a week of hospitalisation.
Impact on leadership transition in Barcelona
Bishop Octavi Vilà of Girona is widely regarded as the leading candidate to succeed Omella. However, no official confirmation has been issued by the Holy See. If appointed, Vilà’s move to Barcelona would trigger a new episcopal appointment in Girona, just over two years after he took office on 21 April 2024. Vilà’s tenure in Girona has been marked by a major restructuring of the diocese, reducing its 13 archdeaconries to six to better align with current pastoral needs and declining numbers of priests. He has also led the implementation of new parish appointments under this reorganised model since September.
Upcoming engagements and schedule factors
Despite speculation, Vilà continues with his scheduled pastoral duties. He is set to preside over the priestly ordination of Capuchin friar Enric Casanovas in Arenys de Mar this Sunday and has several events planned in Girona, including a Mass on 24 October for the feast of Saint Anthony Mary Claret and the solemn celebration of Saint Narcissus, the city’s patron saint, on 29 October. A diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land is also scheduled for him from 18 to 25 February 2027. Meanwhile, Cardinal Omella is currently in Marseille leading spiritual exercises for priests, where he will remain until 16 October. Church sources suggest that any official announcement regarding his succession is unlikely while he is away, potentially pushing the formal communication to after 17 October.
“Now you’re thinking: and are you not giving any news?” Omella joked during the opening of the academic year at the Sant Pacià University Athenaeum. He also quipped about whether his successor would be “from here or from elsewhere,” referencing the secrecy surrounding the process.
Other potential candidates and ongoing speculation
Other names previously mentioned for the role include Tarragona Archbishop Joan Planellas, a native of Girona; Solsona Bishop Francesc Conesa; Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona Javier Vilanova; and Tortosa Bishop Sergi Gordo. The Pope’s planned apostolic trip to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru from 6 to 17 November remains under review. While he expressed his desire to visit Peru during Sunday’s Angelus, the Vatican has not yet confirmed whether the post-surgery recovery will affect the itinerary.
The process of appointing a new Archbishop of Barcelona remains in suspense, with both papal health and senior clerical schedules influencing the timing of any official announcement.
Reported by diaridegirona.cat, bisbatgirona.cat, El Periódico (CA), L'Empordà, Diari de Girona.
