Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz

Paris, Barcelona and Rome (1944-1989)

Mgr Fernando Ocáriz was born in Paris on 27 October 1944, the son of a Spanish family exiled in France during the Civil War (1936-1939). He is the youngest of 8 siblings. He graduated from the University of Barcelona in 1966 with a degree in Physics, graduate.

He obtained the licentiate degreein theology at the Lateran University in 1969 and the doctoratein theology at the University of Navarre in 1971. He was ordained to the priesthood the same year.

Since 1986, he has been consultantof the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Vicar General of the Prelature of Opus Dei and Auxiliary Vicar. (1989-2017)

In 1989 he joined the Pontifical Theological Academy. In the 1980s, he was one of the professors who initiated the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome), where he was Full Professor (now emeritus) of Fundamental Theology.

On 23 April 1994 he was appointed Vicar General of the Prelature of Opus Dei and since 9 December 2014, Auxiliary Vicar.

consultant of the Congregation for the Clergy since 2003 and of the Pontifical committee for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation since 2011.

Prelate of Opus Dei (2017-today)

On 23 January 2017, Pope Francis appointed him Prelate of Opus Dei, after confirming the election made by the third Elective congressheld after the death of the previous prelate in December 2016, Bishop Javier Echevarría. In the vote, 194 members of the Prelature took part.

He has written several essays on Philosophyand theology in various languages, especially on areaof Philosophyof history and Christology.

For the past 22 years he has accompanied the previous prelate, Javier Echevarría, on his pastoral visits to more than 70 countries.