Vives i Sicília was born on 24 July 1949 in
Barcelona, the third son of Francesc Vives i Pons and Cornèlia Sicília Ibáñez, who were small retailers. He entered the
seminary in 1965 and studied humanities, philosophy and theology. In 1974, Vives was ordained a priest in his native parish of Santa Maria del Taulat de Barcelona. He received his episcopal consecration on 5 September from
Ricardo María Carles Gordó, Archbishop of Barcelona.
Pope John Paul II named him
coadjutor bishop of
Urgell on 25 June 2001. Upon the retirement of his predecessor
Joan Martí Alanis on 12 May 2003, Vives succeeded as Bishop of Urgell and
co-prince of Andorra. On 10 July 2003, he took the Constitutional Oath as Co-Prince of Andorra at
Casa de la Vall,
Andorra la Vella. Vives i Sicília was given the personal title of
archbishop by
Pope Benedict XVI on 19 March 2010. On 12 July 2024, shortly before Vives reached the age of 75 when he was required to submit his resignation,
Pope Francis named
Josep-Lluís Serrano Pentinat as
coadjutor bishop of Urgell, to succeed Vives when his resignation is accepted. Vives, in his capacity as co-prince, officially opened the
2025 Games of the Small States of Europe in Andorra on 27 May 2025. On 31 May 2025,
Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Vives, ending his term as both Bishop of Urgell and as the co-prince of Andorra. == Honours ==