Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz by Gabriel12and / Wikimedia Commons (Left), Pope Francis (Right)
CV NEWS FEED // In a friendly audience that took place on June 24, Pope Francis met with Opus Dei prelate Msgr Fernando Ocáriz and discussed the prelature’s status regarding canon law adaptations the Holy Father enacted in 2022.
In July 2022, the Holy See Press Office released a “Motu proprio”, in which the pontiff announced several changes to canon law “to protect the charism of Opus Dei and to promote the evangelizing action carried out by its members in the world.”
Pope Francis also stated that he wished to adapt the prelature to the Roman Curia’s then-new structure.
According to a June 24 Opus Dei news release, Msgr Ocáriz spoke with the Holy Father about the prelature’s adaptation to the new structure, as well as preparations being made for the centenary of Opus Dei and its upcoming regional assemblies this year.
The release stated that Pope Francis encouraged Msgr Ocáriz and Auxiliary Vicar Mariano Fazio “to continue working with this attitude of dialogue and cooperation,” and to continue “to be very close to people, especially in countries where there is more suffering, or where the work of evangelisation is more difficult.”
Msgr Ocáriz told the Holy Father about his upcoming visit to South America.
The release noted that Pope Francis “was both warm and affectionate, and gave the prelate and the auxiliary vicar his affectionate blessing.”
Composed of around 90,000 lay members and 2,000 priests, Opus Dei is one of the largest lay apostolates and the only personal prelature within the Catholic Church.
Among the changes, Pope Francis ordered that Opus Dei be placed under the authority of the Dicastery for Clergy, rather than the Dicastery for Bishops, in practice changing significantly its unique canonical status and moving the institution to their current revision of their constitutions.
To protect the “particular gift of the Spirit” that Opus Dei holds, Pope Francis stated in the Motu proprio that “a form of governance based on charism more than hierarchical authority is needed.” As such, the prelature no longer maintains episcopal order.
Pope Francis further stipulated that the prelature must submit an annual report to the Dicastery for Clergy on the status of its apostolic work.
The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of Opus Dei Founder St Josemaria Escriva today, June 26. Born in Barbastro, Spain, in January 1902, St Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei shortly after his ordination to the priesthood in 1925, according to Catholic News Agency.
Drawing inspiration from what he felt was his own vocational call to ministry for lay Catholics, St Josemaria Escriva founded Opus Dei (Latin for “God’s Work”) as a way to draw everyday Catholics and diocesan priests into deeper holiness through their vocations, prayer, and everyday work.
