Admiral Ávila's Past and Mission

The backstory of the assassin, his trauma, recruitment by the Palmarian Church, and his orders.

increasingBearing stren­gth in each eventdecreasing

The Cathedral Bombing

A Tragic Loss Easter Morning Admiral Ávila is at the Cathedral of Seville with his wife and son when a bomb explodes, killing them. He survives but is devastated. Descent into Alcoholism Plagued by PTSD and guilt, Ávila turns to alcohol and attempts suicide. He is discharged from the navy.

Recruitment by the Palmarian Church

A New Purpose Meeting Marco In the hospital, Ávila meets Marco, a physical trainer who lost a leg in the same bombing. Marco introduces him to the Palmarian Church, which offers a doctrine of righteous vengeance. The Pope's Message Palmarian Pope Innocent XIV preaches that forgiveness is not always necessary and that Ávila's anger can be a tool for God. Ávila is convinced and becomes a devoted follower.

The Assassination Mission

The Regent's Orders Hired to Kill Ávila receives a message from 'the Regent' (later revealed as Winston) with a deposit of 100,000 euros. He is told that Kirsch was responsible for the cathedral bombing and that killing him is God's work. The Assassination Ávila smuggles a ceramic gun into the Guggenheim using a rosary. He shoots Kirsch on live television and escapes in an Uber, but is later hunted down.

The Final Confrontation

A Violent End Pursuing Langdon and Vidal Ávila is ordered to eliminate Langdon and Vidal to prevent them from releasing Kirsch's discovery. He follows them to Sagrada Família, kills two Guardia agents, and confronts Langdon on the spiral staircase. Death by Fall During the struggle, Langdon throws Ávila down the central shaft, killing him. His body is found by police, and his tattoo of the Francoist symbol fuels conspiracy theories about the Palmarian Church.

Five years before the events

A few years after the bombing

The night of the event

Later that night at Sagrada Família