Opus Dei Opens Extraordinary General Congress in Rome

With the Motu Proprio Ad Charisma Tuendum, the Holy Father encouraged the Opus Dei to promote its evangelizing action and to “spread the call to holiness in the world, through the sanctification of work and family and social occupations.” The Motu Proprio modifies two Articles of the Apostolic Constitution Ut Sit (with which the Prelature was erected in 1982) to adapt them to the normative fixed by the recent Apostolic Constitution Praedicate Evangelium on the Roman Curia. 

Moreover, in its third Article, the Motu Proprio added that the Statutes of the Opus Dei “will be suitably adapted, at the proposal of the Prelature itself, for its approval by the competent organs of the Apostolic See” (Ad Charisma Tuendum, no. 3). 

With this premise, the Opus Dei’s Prelate, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, has convoked an Extraordinary General Congress in Rome “to carry out what the Poe has requested on the adaptation of the Work’s Statutes to the indications of the Motu Proprio ‘Ad Charisma Tuendum.’”

Previously, the Prelate had requested the participation of all the Prelature’s faithful who wished to proffer specific suggestions. In a message dated March 30, 2023, he explained: “the numerous suggestions that were received have been studied in Rome , with the help of women and men experts, to present concrete proposals during the Congress. Those that were not applicable to the Holy See’s request, contained in the Motu Proprio, can be taken into account to prepare for the next Ordinary General Congress in 2025. They are very valuable material for which I want to thank you again.” 

Taking part in this Extraordinary General Congress are 126 women and 148 men, of whom 90 are priests. They come from five Continents: Africa (6.6%), America (36%), Asia (6.2%), Europe (50%) and Oceania (1.1%). On April 12, before the meetings begin, a Mass will be celebrated to entrust the works to the Lord. Then those attending the Congress will be divided into working groups to address the proposals for the adaptation of some of the points that make up the Opus Dei’s statutes.

The works and conclusions of these days will then be presented to the Dicastery for the Clergy, the Holy See’s entity with competence on Personal Prelatures. Later, the Holy See will communicate the final changes to the statues approved by the Pope, who is the legislator in the matter. 

In a recent letter to the Prelature’s faithful, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz  pointed out that “all the General Congresses are very special moments of unity among all the Work, and of the Work with the Holy Father and with the whole of the Church. Over these weeks, we want the aspiration of Saint Josemaría: Omnes cum Petro ad Iesum per Mariam (all with Peter to Jesus through Mary), to be especially present. 

A section on the Congress has been opened on the Opus Dei’s Webpage, which includes the previous documents of the Pope and of the Holy See, the messages of the Prelate, a few questions and answers on the Congress and the Motu Proprio, as well as press information on the present state of the Opus Dei’s Prelature. The different materials are at: https://opusdei.org/es/page/ad-charisma-tuendum

The Opus Dei inspires to encounter Christ in work, family life, and the rest of ordinary activities. At present the Prelature has 93,600 members, 60% of whom are women. Many more people, co-operators and friends of Opus Dei’s faithful take part in activities of Christian formation.