José Gabriel Vera will step down as director of the Information Office of the Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) on September 1, a position he has held since 2013. The Navarrese priest announced his decision at the end of the press conference held this Thursday after the meeting of the Permanent Commission of the episcopate. From that date, he will increase his collaboration in the Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela, although he will continue to serve as secretary of the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications.
A replacement requested a year ago
During his intervention, Vera explained that the decision to leave the communications directorate is not recent. According to his account, on July 20, 2025, he requested to be relieved of his duties from the secretary general of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Francisco César García Magán.
The request was postponed after García Magán asked him to remain for a few more months. This continuity allowed him to coordinate the communications for the visit of Pope Leo XIV to Spain, which took place last June.
«When we learned in December that the Pope would come to Spain in June, it seemed to me like a good ending,» Vera noted. He also described these years as «a very exciting and beautiful time in the life of the Church» and stated that organizing the papal trip was «a wonderful experience» from both a personal and professional standpoint.
Assessment of twelve years leading episcopal communications
José Gabriel Vera took advantage of his farewell to thank the trust placed in him by the various presidents, secretaries general, and bishops he has worked with over the years, as well as the collaboration of the Information Office team.
«They have all made things turn out well. For all the things that have gone wrong, I have been the one responsible,» he stated.
During this period, he has been in charge of the institutional communications of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and responsible for coordinating the episcopate’s relationship with the media.
García Magán’s gratitude
After the announcement, the secretary general of the Episcopal Conference publicly thanked Vera for his work over these nearly twelve years.
«I want to publicly thank him, on behalf of the Spanish Episcopal Conference and all the bishops of Spain, for his generous, effective, and loyal work,» García Magán stated.
The secretary general also highlighted his constant availability to meet the institution’s needs. «More than once we have had to work until unholy hours,» he remarked, recalling that Vera has been available «24 hours a day, seven days a week» when necessary.
He also noted that in their personal dealings he has always seen in him «the priest on an evangelizing mission through the media» and added that, although they did not always agree on every approach, «that is what is expected of a good collaborator,» before joking that only in twenty percent of cases did he not follow his recommendations.
Appointment of his successor still pending
José Gabriel Vera’s departure now opens the process to appoint a new director of the Information Office of the Spanish Episcopal Conference.
For the time being, the CEE has not announced who will assume that responsibility starting September 1. However, various sources close to Añastro consider it possible that the position will, for the first time in many years, fall to a layperson.