Joan Enric Vives i Sicília

In this Catalan name, the first or paternal surname is Vives and the second or maternal family name is Sicília; both are generally joined by the conjunction "i".

Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília (Catalan: [ʒuˈan ənˈriɡ ˈbiβəz i siˈsili.ə]; born 24 July 1949) is a Spanish prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as Bishop of Urgell and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 2003. He has had the personal title of archbishop since 2019.

The Most Reverend Archbishop Joan-Enric Vives
Vives in 2016
Co-Prince of Andorra
Reign	12 May 2003 – present
Predecessor	Joan Martí i Alanis
Co-Prince	Jacques Chirac (until 2007) Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012) François Hollande (2012–2017) Emmanuel Macron (2017–)
Bishop of Urgell
See	Urgell
Appointed	25 June 2001 (Coadjutor)
Installed	12 May 2003
Predecessor	Joan Martí i Alanis
Previous post(s)	Coadjutor Bishop of Urgell (2001–2003) Auxiliary Bishop of Barcelona (1993–2001) Titular Bishop of Nona (1993–2001)
Orders
Ordination	24 September 1974
Consecration	5 September 1993 by Ricardo María Carles Gordó
Rank	Archbishop ad personam
Personal details
Born	(1949-07-24) 24 July 1949 (age 75) Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Parents	Cornèlia Sicília Ibáñez Francesc Vives i Pons
Motto	Parare vias Domini
Coat of arms

Biography

Vives i Sicília was born on 24 July 1949 in Barcelona, the third son of Francesc Vives i Pons and Cornèlia Sicília Ibáñez, who were small retailers.^[1] He entered the seminary in 1965 and studied humanities, philosophy and theology.^[2] In 1974, Vives was ordained a priest in his native parish of Santa Maria del Taulat de Barcelona.^[1]

On 9 June 1993 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Barcelona and titular bishop of Nona.^[3] He received his episcopal consecration on 5 September from Ricardo María Carles Gordó, Archbishop of Barcelona.^{[citation needed]} Pope John Paul II named him coadjutor bishop of Urgell on 25 June 2001.^[4] Upon the retirement of his predecessor Joan Martí Alanis on 12 May 2003, Vives succeeded as Bishop of Urgell and co-prince of Andorra.^[5] On 10 July 2003, he took the Constitutional Oath as Co-Prince of Andorra at Casa de la Vall, Andorra la Vella. Vives i Sicília was given the personal title of archbishop by Pope Benedict XVI on 19 March 2010.^[6]

On 12 July 2024, shortly before Vives reached the age of 75 when he was required to submit his resignation, Pope Francis named Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat as coadjutor bishop of Urgell, to succeed Vives when his resignation is accepted.^[7][8]

Foreign honours

• Grand Cross of the Order of Christ of the Portuguese Republic (5 March 2010).^[9][10]
• Cross of the Seven Arms of the Principality of Andorra^[11] (10 July 2024).^[12]

References

1. "L'Arquebisbe" [The Archbishop]. Bisbat d'Urgell (in Catalan). p. 1. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
2. "L'Arquebisbe" [The Archbishop]. Bisbat d'Urgell (in Catalan). p. 2. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
3. Acta Apostolicae Sedis (PDF). Vol. LXXXV. 1993. p. 629. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
4. "Rinunce e Nomine, 25.06.2001" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 25 June 2001. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
5. "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.05.2003" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 12 May 2003. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
6. "Rinunce e Nomine, 19.03.2010" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
7. Coppen, Luke (12 July 2024). "Pope names next prince-bishop of Andorra". The Pillar.
8. Vives i Sicília, Joan-Enric (25 July 2024). "Acollim el nou Bisbe Coadjutor". Bisbat d'Urgell (in Catalan). Retrieved 26 July 2024. El Concili Vaticà II va disposar que, en complir 75 anys, els Bisbes posem el nostre ministeri en mans del Sant Pare perquè sigui lliure d'acceptar-nos la jubilació i nomenar-nos un successor. I així s'ha esdevingut a Urgell: el passat dia 12 de juliol el Sant Pare va nomenar Bisbe Coadjutor d'Urgell Mons. Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat [...] perquè vingui a ajudar-me en el ministeri episcopal a la Diòcesi d'Urgell, i quan el Papa ho decideixi, em succeeixi com a Bisbe i Copríncep d'Andorra.
9. "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas" [FOREIGN ENTITIES AWARDED WITH PORTUGUESE ORDERS]. www.ordens.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Presidency of the Portuguese Republic. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
10. "Presidente encontrou-se com Co-Príncipe de Andorra" [President met with Co-Prince of Andorra]. anibalcavacosilva.arquivo.presidencia.pt (in Portuguese). Presidency of the Portuguese Republic. 6 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
11. "Decreto". 19 December 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
12. "Decreto". 19 December 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2024.

Additional sources

• "¿Quién es... Enric Vives Sicilia?" [Who is… Enric Vives Sicilia?]. InfoVaticana (in Spanish). 7 November 2013.

External links

• Diocese of Urgell

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Agustín García-Gasco Vicente	Titular Bishop of Nona 1993–2001	Succeeded by Socrates Villegas
Preceded by Joan Martí i Alanis	Bishop of Urgell 2003–present	Incumbent
Regnal titles
Preceded by Joan Martí i Alanis	Co-Prince of Andorra 2003–present Served alongside: Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande, Emmanuel Macron	Incumbent