The historical origins of the Chapter of the Cathedral of Mallorca date back to the very beginnings of the restoration of the Church in Mallorca. In 1240, Pope Gregory IX gave the first Bishop of Mallorca, Ramon de Torrella, permission to establish the chapter with canons and dignities. Since then, the Cathedral Chapter has become the group of priests that is responsible for carrying out solemn liturgical celebrations and also for performing the services entrusted to it by canon law or by the Bishop. One of the main duties of the Chapter is to promote the Cathedral as the seat of the Bishop’s magisterium as pastor of Church in Mallorca, and as a sign of the unity in the faith of Mallorcan believers, and to make the Cathedral the centre of the liturgical life of the diocese because it is the Bishop’s church. Other duties include:
- Promoting the evangelisation of Mallorcan society as a priority.
- Promoting the preaching of the Gospel, entrusted in first place to the bishop, who has the Seat, and as his assistants, to exercise the ministry of preaching in accordance with the norms of the sacred liturgy.
- Making the Cathedral the mother church of the Church in Mallorca.
- Promoting the cultural expression of faith in society and dialogue between faith and culture, as well as charitable activity.
- Offering the Cathedral as a church for ecumenical assembly by Christians and believers from other confessions, encouraging inter-confessions celebrations including different branches of Christianity.
- Serving visitors and tourists pastorally.
- Conserving the cultural heritage of the Cathedral and the Chapter, enriching it and displaying it for public attention and appreciation.
- Administering the property of the Cathedral and of the Chapter in accordance with canon law and the specific regulations of the Diocese of Mallorca.
The Chapter comprises two departments, which in turn are made up of other areas led by canons, as shown in the organisational chart. The seal of the Cabildo represents the seated figure of the Virgin with the Child Jesus in her arms, according to the iconography of the shield on the Baroque Chapterhouse vault.
The Chapter of Canons operates with an internal organizational model based on its dual function of evangelization and historical transmission of Christian cultural values.
The model has the following characteristics:
1.- The Chapter is the sole institutional entity responsible for the management of the Cathedral, delegating the operational and representative function to the Dean President.
2.- The organizational chart serves the nature of the Cathedral as a Catholic temple intended for the celebration of Faith and Evangelization and, at the same time, as a vehicle for the social transmission of Christian culture through the monumental heritage, protected since 1931 as a Cultural Heritage Asset. Two departments constitute the functional core of the current organizational chart: the Pastoral Department and the Culture Department. These departments are composed of various areas, each headed by different canons, as specified in the Chapter's Statutes.
3.- The technical management of the Pastoral Department is coordinated by Mr. Antoni Ximenis Palmer, chief sacristan of the Cathedral.
4.- In order to achieve greater efficiency in the coordination, control, and management of the Cathedral in its specific uses (Faith - Cultural Transmission - Administration of material goods), there are two technical departments: the Technical-Administrative Department, entrusted by the Chapter to Mr. Joan Pastor Nieto (graduate in Management and Security, and Master in Security) and the Economic-Financial Department, headed by Mr. Rafel Mesquida Oliver (diploma in Tourism, Postgraduate in Accounting and Financial Management, and Financial Advisor for Religious Entities and the Third Sector).
Rev. Antoni Vera Díaz
Born: 03/04/1969 - Santanyí (Calonge)
Ordained: 07/01/1996
Assumption of office: 15/12/2021
Rev. Llorenç Tous Massanett
Born: 23/12/1933- Capdepera
Ordained: 19/03/1957
Assumption of office: 10/02/1962
Rev. Joan Bestard Comas
Born: 23/08/1940 - Lloseta
Ordained: 20/06/1965
Assumption of office: 29/06/1994
Rev. Pere Torres Siquier
Born: 29/11/1930 - Sa Pobla
Ordained: 20/06/1954
Assumption of office: 29/06/1994
Rev. Joan Darder Brotat
Born: 14/02/1944 - Alcúdia
Ordained: 26/03/1967
Assumption of office: 02/06/1999
Rev. Gabriel Amengual Coll
Born: 25/01/1943 - Sta. Eugènia
Ordained: 19/06/1966
Assumption of office: 23/12/2002
Rev. Joan Bauzà Bauzà
Born: 20/05/1944 - Vilafranca
Ordained: 18/06/1967
Assumption of office: 23/12/2002
Rev. Canon Teodor Suau Puig
Born: 06/06/1947 - Palma
Ordained: 13/06/1971
Assumption of office: 23/12/2002
Rev. Mgr. Lluc Riera Coll
Position: Prior of the Sanctuary of the Annunciation of Mary – La Sang
Born: 23/03/1948 - Palma
Ordained: 28/05/1972
Assumption of office: 31/01/2014
M. Iltre. Sr. D. Miquel Pons Melià
Born: 27/10/1942 - Porreras
Ordained: 19/06/1966
Assumption of office: 31/01/2014
M. Iltre. Sr. D. Bartomeu Veny Vidal
Nacido: 03/10/1940 - Palma
Ordenado: 16/06/1973
Toma de posesión: 31/01/2014
Rev. Mgr. Andreu Genovart Orell
Born: 26/11/1943 - Colònia Sant Pere
Ordained: 21/06/1969
Assumption of office: 27/10/2018