Pope Francis Names Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz Prelate of Opus Dei

This evening, Pope Francis confirmed Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz as the new Prelate of Opus Dei, following his election earlier in the day during the elective congress. He is the third successor to Saint Josemaria.

This evening, Pope Francis confirmed Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz as the new Prelate of Opus Dei, following his election earlier in the day during the elective congress.

With this appointment, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, who until now has been Auxiliary Vicar of Opus Dei, becomes the third successor of Saint Josemaria at the head of the Prelature, following the death of Bishop Javier Echevarría this past December 12th.

The Holy Father confirmed the election of the new Prelate on the same day it took place.

Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz was born in Paris on October 27, 1944, in a Spanish family exiled in France due to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The youngest of eight children, he graduated from the University of Barcelona with a degree in Physical Sciences in 1966. He received a licentiate in Theology from the Pontifical Lateran University in 1969 and a doctorate in Theology from the University of Navarra in 1971, the year he was ordained a priest. In his first years as a priest he was especially involved in ministry to young people and university students.

He is a consultor for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (since 1986), as well as other departments of the Roman Curia: the Congregation for the Clergy (since 2003) and the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization (since 2011). He has been a member of the Pontifical Theological Academy since 1989. In the 1980s, he was among the professors who began the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, where he was a tenured professor (now emeritus) in Fundamental Theology.

Pope Francis and Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz during an audience in 2013

He has published two important works on Christology: Hijos de Dios en Cristo. Introducción a una teología de la participación sobrenatural and El misterio de Jesucristo. The second title (co-authored with Lucas F. Mateo Seco and José Antonio Riestra) is available in English as The Mystery of Jesus Christ. Other publications include Amar con obras: a Dios y a los hombres and Naturaleza, gracia y gloria, with a preface by then-Cardinal Ratzinger. In 2013, Rafael Serrano's extensive interview with him was published under the title Sobre Dios, la Iglesia y el mundo. He has also published two philosophical works: El marxismo: teoría y práctica de una revolución and Voltaire: tratado sobre la tolerancia. In addition, he has authored numerous theological and philosophical articles.

Since 1994 he has been the Vicar General of Opus Dei, and in 2014 he was named Auxiliary Vicar of the Prelature. Over the past 22 years he has accompanied the previous Prelate, Bishop Javier Echevarría, on his pastoral trips to more than 70 countries. In the 1960s, as a theology student, he lived in Rome alongside Saint Josemaría, the Founder of Opus Dei. From a young age he has been an avid tennis player, which he still enjoys.

In the upcoming days, the new Prelate will propose the names of his vicars to the congress participants, as well as the other new members of the councils that will assist him during the next eight years.

Photos of Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/opus-dei/sets/72157675890611113

More information on the elective congress:

https://opusdei.org/en/section/elective-congress-2017/