Fr. Manuel Enrique Barrios Prieto

Fr Manuel was born in Madrid (Spain) in November 1962 and was ordained priest in Rome in 1988. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University obtaining the degree of Doctor in Theology with a thesis on theological anthropology based on the works of the Anglican theologian John Macquarrie. He also has a degree in Clinical Psychology from a Spanish civil university and an official European recognition as a psychotherapist.

Fr Manuel has been parish priest for 20 years in the Archdiocese of Madrid and Episcopal delegate for the Pastoral Care of the Family for 10 years. He was also responsible for the Secretariat of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue for 9 years.

He was elected by the Bishops of COMECE as General Secretary in the Plenary Assembly celebrated in March 2019 and took office on 1st September 2019. In November 2023, the Plenary Assembly re-elected him as General Secretary for another 4-year mandate.

Fr. Manuel speaks Spanish, Italian, English and French.