Fernando Ocáriz Braña

Fernando Ocáriz Braña (born 27 October 1944) is a priest of the Catholic Church who has been the prelate of Opus Dei since 2017. Ocáriz is the fourth person to head Opus Dei since its founding in 1928. He is widely published in philosophy and has been a consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith since 1986.[1]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Ocáriz and the second or maternal family name is Braña.
Monsignor

Fernando Ocáriz Braña
Prelate of Opus Dei
Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz
ChurchCatholic
SeeOpus Dei
Appointed23 January 2017
Installed27 January 2017
PredecessorJavier Echevarría Rodríguez
Orders
Ordination15 August 1971
by Marcelo González Martín
Personal details
Born
Fernando Ocáriz Braña

(1944-10-27) 27 October 1944
Paris, France
Previous post(s)
  • Vicar General of Opus Dei (1994–2014)
  • Auxiliary Vicar of Opus Dei (2014–17)
Alma mater

Life, studies and work

Fernando Ocáriz Braña was born in Paris on 27 October 1944 to José Ocáriz Gómez and María Dolores Braña, and is the youngest of eight children. He joined Opus Dei on 7 September 1961.[2]

In the 1960s, as a theology student, he lived in Rome alongside Josemaría Escrivá, the founder of Opus Dei. 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.

He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1971, and was especially involved in ministry to young people and to university students during the first years of his priesthood.

Since 1986, he has been a consultor of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, 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 also been a member of the Pontifical Academy of Theology since 1989. In 2009, it was announced that he would participate in the doctrinal discussions between the Society of St. Pius X and the Holy See.[3]

In the early 1980s, Ocáriz was among the professors who began the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, where he was a tenured professor (now Emeritus Professor) in Fundamental Theology.

Ocáriz was appointed Vicar General of the Prelature of Opus Dei on 23 April 1994. In 2014, he was named Auxiliary Vicar of Opus Dei.[4]

He became the provisional head of Opus Dei upon the death of the prelate of Opus Dei, Javier Echevarria, in December 2016. He was elected prelate of Opus Dei on 23 January 2017, and on the same day Pope Francis confirmed that appointment.[5]

Prelate of Opus Dei

A few weeks after his election, on 14 February 2017, Ocariz transmitted to the members of the prelature the conclusions of the General Congress of Opus Dei, outlining the main priorities of the prelature.[6]

References
  1. "Biografía de Mons. Fernando Ocáriz". Opus Dei (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  2. "'The Church's vitality depends on a complete openness to the Gospel'". Opus Dei. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  3. "Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz is the New Chancellor of Strathmore University". Strathmore University. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  4. "Mons. Fernando Ocáriz, nuevo Gran Canciller".
  5. "Monsignor Ocariz confirmed as new prelate of Opus Dei". Catholic News Agency. 23 January 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  6. "Letter from the Prelate". Opus Dei. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
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