Pope receives Opus Dei prelate for second time since his election

This morning, Pope Leo XIV received in audience Bishop Fernando Ocáriz, who was accompanied by his Auxiliary Vicar, Bishop Mariano Fazio. This is the second official audience between the Pontiff and the prelate, after a first meeting on May 14, 2025, barely a week after the election of Leo XIV as successor of St. Peter.

According to the website of the prelature, The Prelate «assured the Holy Father of the union and affection of the members of Opus Dei with the Pope and with the whole Church, as well as their prayers for his person and for the intentions that he carries in his heart.

Issues addressed

During the meeting, several topics were discussed, «in an atmosphere of great trust,» related to the work and challenges of Opus Dei's work.

Regarding the approval of the new statutes, the Holy Father pointed out that they are still «in the study phase and that it is not yet possible to foresee a date of publication».

On the other hand, «the institutional perspective on some specific controversies in Argentina was explained to the Pope,» where for years the Prelature has been facing the claims of a group of former auxiliary nuns and has a lawsuit in the process of being admitted for processing.

Finally, they also discussed «the situation of vocations in the Church and, in particular, the contrast between the African and European continents».

Gifts

During the audience, Bishop Ocáriz presented the Holy Father with two books as gifts: «.«The Church in the street. The reception of the Gaudium et spes in six holy shepherds«published by the Augustinian priest Ramón Sala González, who dedicates a chapter to St. Josemaría; and «Yauyos, an adventure in the Andes«Samuel Valero's well-known story about the evangelizing work of Opus Dei priests in two provinces of Peru, now in its 5th edition.

Finally, the Holy Father «imparted his apostolic blessing, which he extended to all the members of Opus Dei and to all those who participate in its apostolates».

Canonical situation of Opus Dei

Opus Dei is a personal prelature of the Catholic Church, whose charism and juridical structure are regulated by specific canon law. With the reform dictated by Praedicate Evangelium and, especially, since the promulgation of the motu proprio Ad charisma tuendum In 2022, the Prelature has been immersed in a process of adapting its statutes.

After several years of internal work and consultations, Prelate Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz formally presented the proposal for the new statutes to the Holy See in June 2025. Since then, the text has been in the hands of the competent dicastery in the Roman Curia, which is responsible for studying its contents and issuing a definitive opinion on its approval.

Meanwhile, Opus Dei continues to operate under its current juridical regime and maintains that it is working in a spirit of trust and unity with the Church to complete this canonical process which, in its opinion, will allow it to consolidate its identity and apostolic mission in the context of the ecclesial reform promoted by the current pontificate.