Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday briefly discussed the revision of Opus Dei’s statutes with the apostolate’s prelate, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, a revision that was postponed following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, two days before the convening of Opus Dei’s general congress, from which the revisions proposed for approval were to be issued.
According to the Opus Dei communications office in Rome, the May 14 encounter was “a brief meeting in which the pope expressed his closeness and affection.”
“In a familial atmosphere of trust, Leo XIV gave the prelate and the auxiliary vicar his paternal blessing” and, at the end of the audience, mentioned “the feasts of Our Lady celebrated on the day of his election,” the statement reads.
During the meeting, in which Ocáriz was accompanied by his auxiliary vicar, Monsignor Mariano Fazio, one of the topics discussed was the delayed statutory revisions.
“Among other topics, the Holy Father asked about the current study of the statutes of the prelature and listened with great interest to the explanations given to him,” the official statement noted.
Opus Dei had planned to revise its statutes to adapt them to Pope Francis’ motu proprio Ad Charisma Tuendum. In essence, the pope’s directive placed Opus Dei under the direction of the Dicastery for the Clergy rather than the Dicastery for Bishops and ended the practice of elevating the prelate of Opus Dei to the rank of bishop.
Pope Francis had also requested that Opus Dei revise its statutes to reflect this new structure, which was to be finalized during the general congress. This revision was to be presented as a proposal to the Holy See for approval following its adoption by the assembly.
However, the general congress ultimately focused solely on the tasks of choosing a new general council and central advisory board, positions that are selected every eight years.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
