The Spanish Episcopal Conference (CEE) has appointed journalist Carmen Ramírez Moreno as the new head of its Press Office. Ramírez Moreno, who had served as deputy head since 2023, has thus become the first woman to lead the office.
The appointment was announced on Thursday, October 1, 2026, following a meeting of the Permanent Commission of the Spanish Episcopal Conference. The commission met in Madrid on September 29 and 30, and the new head was appointed on the recommendation of the Conference’s secretary general.
Ramírez Moreno is a laywoman from the Archdiocese of Madrid. In her new role, she succeeds priest José Gabriel Vera Beorlegui of the Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela, who had led the Press Office since January 2015. After more than eleven years at its helm, Vera Beorlegui is returning to his archdiocese.
Three decades of work in the Press Office
The new head has built a long professional career within the Spanish Episcopal Conference. She has worked at the institution for roughly three decades, and throughout that time her work has been connected with the Press Office. She therefore takes its helm as a journalist with many years of experience working in the very office she will lead.
In 2023, she was appointed deputy head of the office. She held that position until her appointment as head. The change in leadership thus sees the former deputy move into the top role, after many years of work within the same structure.
Secretary general highlights professionalism and bishops’ support
The decision was announced at a press conference held after the meeting of the Permanent Commission by Msgr. César García Magán. The auxiliary bishop of Toledo is also the secretary general and spokesperson of the Spanish Episcopal Conference.
Speaking about the new head, García Magán highlighted Carmen Ramírez’s professionalism. He also emphasized that her appointment had received the unanimous support of the bishops who are members of the Permanent Commission. According to the Conference’s announcement, the appointment was made on the recommendation of the secretary general.
José Gabriel Vera returns to his archdiocese
Outgoing head José Gabriel Vera Beorlegui took over the Press Office in January 2015 and led it for more than eleven years. He is now leaving the headquarters of the Spanish Episcopal Conference to return to the Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela, to which he belongs.
His successor had already been part of the Press Office structure, serving as its deputy since 2023. With the appointment of Carmen Ramírez Moreno, leadership passes to a longtime Conference staff member and the first woman entrusted with leading its Press Office.
