Prelature of Opus Dei

On 28 November 1982, St. John Paul II erected Opus Dei as a personal prelature by means of the Apostolic Constitution “Ut sit.” Here are some videos and texts on its juridical structure and apostolic mission.

Keys for understanding the Prelature of Opus Dei
Opus Dei is a Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church
  • Promulgation  of the Bull “Ut sit”: On 28 November 1982, John Paul II erected Opus Dei as a personal prelature through the apostolic constitution “Ut sit.” This short video shows the moment when the Bull was handed over to Bishop Alvaro del Portillo at the Basilica of Saint Eugene in Rome on 19 March 1983.
  • Letter on the erection of Opus Dei as a prelature: In this letter, written in 1982, Bishop Alvaro del Portillo, Saint Josemaría’s first successor, explains that with the establishment of the personal prelature “there is no change in the spirit, aims, or apostolic methods that we have been living up to now.”
  • “A time to put fear aside and pursue daring apostolic goals”: Almost 20 years after erecting Opus Dei as a personal prelature, St. John Paul II encouraged its faithful, laity and priests, to fearlessly pursue its perennial mission of evangelising the world, each from his or her own state in life.
  • On the motu proprio “Ad Charisma Tuendum”: On 14 July 2022, Pope Francis modified articles V and VI of the Bull “Ut sit” through the motu proprio “Ad charisma tuendum.” Here is the text of the motu proprio, a letter from the Prelate, and some questions and answers about it.
  • The universal call to holiness: In his general audience on 19 November 2014, Pope Francis explained that sanctity is a gift from God and that all the baptised faithful can become saints.