Pope Leo XIV met Feb. 16 with the head of Opus Dei, and they discussed the group’s ongoing statute revisions, internal controversies in Argentina, and broader trends in Catholic vocations worldwide, according to a statement released by the organization.
The organization said the Pope received its prelate, Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz, and Auxiliary Vicar Msgr. Mariano Fazio, and that “several topics were addressed in an atmosphere of great trust, about the perspectives and challenges of the work of evangelization that Opus Dei carries out throughout the world, as it approaches its first centenary.”
Among the central issues was the ongoing revision of Opus Dei’s governing statutes, a process prompted by recent Vatican reforms affecting personal prelatures.
According to the organization’s statement, “the Holy Father said the process of updating Opus Dei's Statutes continues in its study phase and that no publication date can yet be foreseen.”
The revision follows changes under Pope Francis that altered how personal prelatures are overseen by the Vatican and clarified the status of their leadership. Opus Dei has been working to align its internal rules with those new norms, but the updated statutes have not yet been finalized.
The statement also said “the institutional perspective on some specific controversies in Argentina was explained to the Pope,” though it did not elaborate on the nature of those controversies.
According to its website, an Argentine criminal investigation that began over social security contributions and later expanded to allegations of labor exploitation remains in the investigative stage. No one has been charged and prelature has “categorically denie[d]” accusations.
The group also discussed broader challenges facing the Church’s evangelizing mission worldwide, including “the situation of vocations in the Church and, particularly, the contrast between the situation in Africa and in Europe,” according to the statement. While Opus Dei did not elaborate, the reference reflects widely noted differences in vocations trends in the two regions.
During the meeting, Msgr. Ocáriz “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 he carries in his heart,” the statement said.
Msgr. Ocáriz also presented the Pope with two books, including a recent work on the reception of Gaudium et spes that features a chapter on Opus Dei founder Saint Josemaría Escrivá and another on the evangelizing work of Opus Dei priests in the Peruvian Andes.
Before concluding the audience, Pope Leo “gave his apostolic blessing, which he wished to extend to all members of Opus Dei and to all those who participate in its apostolates.”