Pope Francis Receives New Prelate in Audience

Today at 12.15 pm, the Holy Father received the Prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, in an audience, accompanied by the Vicar General, Monsignor Mariano Fazio.

Today at 12.15 pm, the Holy Father received the Prelate of Opus Dei, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, in an audience, accompanied by the Vicar General, Monsignor Mariano Fazio.

The Pope greeted them with an affectionate “abrazo,” or hug. In the audience, which lasted about 25 minutes, the Prelate thanked him for his warm telegram on the death of Bishop Javier Echevarría, his prayers for the Elective Congress, and his confirming his election as the new Prelate.

Monsignor Ocáriz made known to him the unanimous union of all the faithful of the Prelature with the Holy Father, and informed him of the pastoral priorities set by the Congress for the upcoming years: the family, youth, and an active concern for the most needy. Pope Francis thanked him for the Prelature’s apostolic efforts throughout the world, especially the spiritual care provided each person, fostering ecumenism in countries with a minority Catholic population, and projects of social integration. He also urged the Prelate to give priority to a specific “periphery: middle class people and the professional and intellectual sectors that are distant from God.

The Holy Father Francis, in giving his blessing to the Prelate and Vicar General, extended it to all the faithful of the Prelature, and asked that they pray for him.