Holy See Press Office Bulletin, 11 November 2026

Updated at 18:41 (Rome time)

Today's Holy See Press Office Bulletin, Wednesday 11 November, contains three communications: Resignations and Appointments, the visit to the Buenos Aires Federal Penitentiary Complex, and Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján.

Resignation and appointment of archbishop of Barcelona, Spain. The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Barcelona, Spain, presented by His Eminence Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella.

He has appointed Bishop Octavi Vilá Mayo, O. Cist., as metropolitan archbishop of Barcelona, Spain, transferring him from the diocese of Girona. Born on 11 December 1961 in Tarragona, Spain, he studied philosophy and theology at the Faculty of Theology of Catalonia. He entered the novitiate in the Monastery of Poblet in 2006, made his perpetual vows in 2010 and was ordained a priest on 1 May 2015. He served as abbot of the Monastery of Santa María de Poblet from 2015 to 2024 and was appointed bishop of Girona on 29 February 2024 (episcopal ordination on 21 April).

Erection of the diocese of Nzega, Tanzania, and appointment of first bishop. The Holy Father has erected the diocese of Nzega in Tanzania, with territory taken from the archdiocese of Tabora, making it a suffragan of the latter. At the same time, he appointed the Reverend Joseph Mashaka Triphon, C.S.Sp., hitherto parish priest of the Cathedral of Bagamoyo, as first bishop of the newly-erected diocese. Born on 15 January 1962 in Tanzania, he made his perpetual vows on 1 October 1994 and was ordained a priest on 27 May 1995. The see of the diocese is in the city of Nzega and will include the civil districts of Nzega and Igunga, within the administrative region of Tabora; the Church of Saint Bernadette will serve as the Cathedral.

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Mwanza, Tanzania. The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Maximilian Francis Buluma, of the clergy of Mwanza, Tanzania, until now lecturer at Saint Augustine Major Seminary in Peramiho, diocese of Songea, as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Mwanza, Tanzania, assigning him the titular see of Puppi. Born on 29 October 1976 in Tanzania, he was ordained a priest on 10 December 2006. He was awarded a licentiate and a doctorate in Christology from the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Southern Italy, Saint Thomas of Aquinas Section, in Naples, Italy (2009-2015).

(No. 0901, Bulletin)

Apostolic Journey — visit to the Buenos Aires Federal Penitentiary Complex. At 7.10 (11.10 in Rome) Leo XIV took leave of the Apostolic Nunciature and transferred by car to the Buenos Aires Federal Penitentiary Complex. Upon arrival, accompanied by Archbishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva of Buenos Aires, he approached the stage set up inside the gymnasium of the Complex, via the central corridor, and was welcomed by the Director of the Penitentiary Centre and other authorities present. After the welcome hymn, the introduction from the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, the words of welcome from the Director of the Penitentiary Centre, and testimonies from two inmates and a person who has served his sentence, the Holy Father delivered his address. This was followed by the signing of the Book of Honour and the exchange of gifts, with an introduction from the Chaplain, Father Matías Martini. At the end, after the blessing and the final hymn, the Holy Father bade farewell to the Director of the Penitentiary Centre at the main entrance and transferred by car to the Basilica of Luján for the celebration of Holy Mass. The Bulletin also publishes the address delivered to those present.

(No. 0899, Bulletin)

Apostolic Journey — Holy Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján. At approximately 8.30 (12.30 in Rome) Pope Leo XIV left the Buenos Aires Federal Penitentiary Complex and transferred by car to the Basilica of Luján, where at 10.00 (14.00 in Rome) he presided over the Eucharistic Celebration, in the presence of more than two million faithful in the square and street in front of the Basilica and the surrounding area, according to estimates by the local authorities. Upon arrival at the Basilica, the Pontiff toured among the faithful in an open car. After the introductory rites and the Liturgy of the Word, the Pope delivered his homily. At the end of Holy Mass, Archbishop Jorge Eduardo Scheinig of Mercedes-Luján addressed some words of thanks to the Holy Father and, immediately afterwards, the Pontiff thanked the Argentine nation for the welcome afforded to him. At around 11.55, after the presentation of the gift and the Golden Rose, the Holy Father left the Basilica of Our Lady of Luján and transferred by car to Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Buenos Aires, stopping along the way at the Villa Marista San José de Luján to address a brief greeting to the volunteers of the Journey in Argentina gathered in the garden. The Bulletin also publishes the homily and the words of thanks at the end of Holy Mass.

(No. 0900, Bulletin)

The appointments are also in our Appointments section.

Source: Holy See Press Office, Bulletin of 11 November

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