(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 22.07.2022).- At noon, on Friday , July 22, a Motu Proprio of Pope Francis was published relating to the Personal Prelature of the Opus Dei. This Document, desired by the Pope (hence its name in Latin), “intends to confirm the Prelature of the Opus Dei in the genuinely charismatic ambit of the Church, specifying its organization in line with the testimony of the Founder, Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, and with the teachings of the conciliar ecclesiology on Personal Prelatures.”
The papal Document recalls that after the reform of the Roman Curia, wrought by the Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, it was thought opportune that the Opus Dei should depend on the Dicastery for the Clergy and not that of the Bishops, as was the case, “in consideration of the preeminent task that clergymen carry out in it according to the rule of law.”
Before dictating the new rules, the Pope stresses that he gives them wishing “to protect the charism of the Opus Dei and to promote the evangelizing action of its members in the world, and, at the same time, having to adapt the dispositions relating to the Prelature to the new organization of the Roman Curia.”
The six new dispositions consist in:
1st Modification of the article of the Ut Sit Constitution: dependence on the Dicastery for the Clergy
The Pope rules: The text of art. 5 of the Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit is substituted, henceforth, by the following: “According to art. 117 of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the Prelature depends on the Dicastery for the Clergy that, according to the subject, will evaluate the questions related to the other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. The Dicastery for the Clergy, in addressing the different questions, will make use of the competencies of the other Dicasteries through opportune consultation or transfer of dossiers.”
2nd Modification of the article of the Ut Sit Constitution: The Prelate will present an annual Report to the Dicastery for the Clergy
The Pope rules: “The text of article 6 of the Ut Sit Apostolic Constitution is substituted, henceforth, by the following: “Every year the Prelate will present to the Dicastery for the Clergy a Report on the state of the Prelature and on the development of its apostolic work.”
3rd Adaptation of the Statutes of the Prelature of the Opus Dei
The Pope rules: “On account of the modifications of the Ut Sit Apostolic Constitution, introduced by this Apostolic Letter, the Statues of the Prelature of the Opus Dei will be appropriately adapted at the suggestion of the Prelature itself to be approved by the competent organs of the Apostolic See.”
4th The Prelate “will not be honoured with the Episcopal Order”
The Pope rules: “Respecting fully the nature of the specific charism described in the mentioned Apostolic Constitution, the intention is to reinforce the conviction that, for the protection of the particular gift of the Spirit, a form of government is necessary based more on the charism than on hierarchic authority. Therefore, the Prelate will not be honoured with the Episcopal Order.”
5th About the Pontifical Insignias
The Pope rules: Taking into account that the pontifical insignias are reserved to those that are constituted with the Episcopal Order, the Prelate of the Opus Dei is granted, by reason of his office, the use of the title Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotary with the title of Reverend Monsignor and, hence, can use the insignias proper to this title.”
6th The Dicastery for the Clergy Will Address and Decide on Pending Affairs of the Opus Dei with the Dicastery for Bishops
The Pope rules: “From the entry into force of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, all the pending affairs in the Congregation for Bishops relating to the Prelature of the Opus Dei will continue being addressed and decided upon by the Dicastery for the Clergy.”
According to the Motu Proprio, all that is established will come into force on August 4, 2022.
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Full Text in English of the Motu Proprio “Ad Charisma Tuendum”
To safeguard the charism, in the Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit of November 28, 1982, my Predecessor erected the Prelature of the Opus Dei, entrusting it with the pastoral task to contribute in a special way to the evangelizing mission of the Church. According to the gift of the Spirit received by Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, the Prelature of the Opus Dei, with the guidance of its Prelate, carries out, in fact, the task of spreading the call to holiness in the world, through the sanctification of work and family and social commitments, through clergymen incardinated in it, and with the organic cooperation of the laity that are dedicated to apostolic works (cf. cc. 294-296, CCC).
My Venerable Predecessor stated that: “With great hope, the Church directs her maternal concern and attention to the Opus Dei (. . . ) so that it will always be a valid and effective instrument of the saving mission that the Church carries out for the life of the world.”
This Motu Proprio intends to confirm the Prelature of the Opus Dei in the genuinely charismatic ambit of the Church, specifying it organization in line with the testimony of the Founder, Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, and with the teachings of the conciliar ecclesiology on the Personal Prelatures.
By the Apostolici Constitution Praedicate Evangelium of March 19, 2022, which reforms the organization of the Roman Curia to promote its service better in favour of evangelization, I have considered it opportune to entrust to the Dicastery for the Clergy the competence of all that corresponds to the Apostolic See in regard to Personal Prelatures, of which the only one erected to date is that of the Opus Die, in consideration of the preeminent task that the clergymen carry out in it, according to the rule of law CF. c. 294, CCC).
Hence, wishing to protect the charism of the Opus Dei and to promote the evangelizing action of its members in the world, and having at the same time to adapt the dispositions relating to the Prelature to the new organization of the Roman Curia, I order that the following rules be observed.
Art. 1. The text of art. 5 of the Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit is substituted, henceforth, by the following: “In keeping with art. 117 of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, the Prelature depends on the Dicastery for the Clergy, that, according to the subject, will evaluate the questions relating to the other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. On addressing different questions, the Dicastery for the Clergy will make use of the competencies of the other Dicasteries, through opportune consultation or transfer of dossiers.”
Art. 2. The text of article 6 of the Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit is substituted, henceforth, by the following: “Every year the Prelate will present to the Diacastery for the Clergy a Report on the state of the Prelature and on the development of its apostolic work.”
Article 3. On account of the modifications of the Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit introduced by this Apostolic Letter, the Statutes of the Prelature of the Opus Dei will be appropriately adapted to the suggestion of the Prelature itself, to be approved by the competent organs of the Apostolic See.
Article 4. Respecting fully the nature of the specific charism described in the mentioned Apostolic Constitution, the intention is to reinforce the conviction that, for the protection of the particular gift of the Spirit, a form of government is necessary based more on the charism than on hierarchic authority, Therefore, the Prelate will not be honoured with the Episcopal Order.
Article 5. Taking into account that the pontifical insignias are reserved to those that are constituted with the Episcopal Order, granted to the Prelate of the Opus Dei, by reason of his office, is the use of the title Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotary with the title of Reverend Monsignor and, hence, he can use the insignias corresponding to that title.
Article 6. From the entry into force of the Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium, all the affairs pending in the Congregation for Bishops relating to the Prelature of the Opus Dei will continue being addressed and decided on by the Dicastery for the Clergy.
I decree that the present Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio be promulgated through it publication in L’Osservatore Romano, entering into force on August 4, 2022 and published subsequently in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
