Octavi Vilà Mayo (Tarragona, 1961) will be proclaimed bishop of Girona today, a diocese that has remained vacant for the last two years after the death of its previous prelate, Francesc Pardo. With a social and Catalan profile, the one who was abbot of Poblet for the last nine years takes charge of one of the most secularized dioceses with fewer and fewer priests.
In his first public appearance he stated that it had been “a little difficult” for him to accept the position. Because?
Basically for personal reasons. In 2005 I entered the monastery of Poblet, in 2015 I was appointed abbot and six years later I was confirmed in the position. I have a personal vocation as a monk and I understood that I had a commitment to my community. All that changed and a process of discernment opened in me. The problem came from that change of life.
Currently there is no monk bishop in Spain. What can you contribute to the diocese?
I am the fourth abbot of Poblet bishop, the last one was appointed 300 years ago. I can fundamentally contribute a life of contact with the word of God, with prayer and a certain climate of serenity in decision-making.
You had a late vocation, you lived a lay life and had partners before becoming religious. When does the call come?
It was a gradual process. In the year 2000, my predecessor, Abbot Josep Alegre, decided to recover an association of lay people that existed in the Poblet monastery, the Germandat, of which I ended up being a part. One of its objectives was to give it a more spiritual air: breaks were taken during Advent, Lent, lectio divina groups were created... All this made me enter the monastic world. A change in my work situation also influenced me, in which I would have more responsibility.
Recognize that it is not an easy time for the Church. What are those difficulties?
The Church in Europe, Spain, Catalonia and Girona must get used to the current social situation. We come from many years in which the Church had a predominant role, it was highly protected by the institutions of the State, it was even a bit hostage of these institutions that took advantage of this relationship, in a certain way manipulating it. Since the Second Vatican Council, the situation changed with important figures such as Cardinal Tarancón, at the Spanish level, or Narcís Jubany and Josep Pont, in Catalonia. We must reposition ourselves. The model to follow is that of the French Church, which has had many years of a relationship that is not distant, but each on their own ground, with the State. I think it is the model towards which we must move forward.
Should a bishop be able to express his political opinion?
You should never do politics directly, that's what politicians are for. But what the Church must seek is to encourage politics to take place on the board of debate and dialogue and not in other fields that do not provide solutions but rather end up creating more problems, such as the judiciary.
Shouldn't the Church have been more forceful in cases of sexual abuse?
I have always been quite critical. For many years this issue was addressed incorrectly, with transfers to other parishes, schools or third countries, to get rid of the problem. Now progress is being made in the development of protocols and in the Holy See, especially Popes Francis and Benedict, and John Paul II with Cardinal Ratzinger in the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, have approached them in a very different way. It is not a matter of figures. The problem is not more serious because 30,000 or 300,000 are affected. A single case is enough to justify action.
In Girona there are few priests for many parishes. Do you plan to close any?
It is not about closing them, in general terms, but about looking for valid formulas. For example, for Sunday celebrations, transfer the faithful to the largest parishes as long as it is kept in mind that each parish of origin continues to be the point of reference for funerals or baptisms. We must look for formulas that do not overburden priests, who are also in charge of visiting the sick in hospitals or at home. There are things that lay people can do.
Is it then about reinforcing the role of the laity?
There are many fronts in which they can act: visits to the sick or catechism, providing them with ongoing formation to face these challenges.
There are fewer priests and the seminaries are empty. Would not having celibacy be mandatory help alleviate this deficit?
This is a hypothesis that is always on the table. We have the experience of the diaconate, who are married and this is already a step. Sometimes the Church takes steps in a calm, if not slow, way. But there are formulas that are being tested, such as what Pope Francis implemented a year and a half ago, that women be acolyte readers. It means they can do the readings and serve at the altar. It was something they already did, but it was not canonically recognized by the Church.
Will the option for them to be priests in the future come?
I could arrive. It is one of the topics that is being reflected on in the synod, it is a topic that is at least on the table.
