Opus Dei

Articles and books by and about Alvaro del Portillo in English and other sources of information about his life, with links to those available online.

Alvaro del Portillo was born in Madrid on March 11, 1914. He was the third of eight children in a devout Catholic family. He died in Rome on March 23, 1994.

Spurred by a Buddhist woman’s zeal, José Luis Olaizola, a supernumerary of Opus Dei, and his wife Marisa have raised over a million euros to help fight the exploitation of young girls in Thailand.

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis went to see the Pope Emeritus to wish him a merry Christmas.

In a recent symposium held at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, St. Josemaria's contribution to theology was discussed by 300 participants from 25 countries.

Pope Francis made the traditional papal trip to Rome’s Piazza di Spagna for the Immaculate Conception of Mary and recited a prayer written especially for this occasion.

Two days before Christmas, on Monday, December 23, at 11.30 am, the Holy Father received the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarría, in a private audience.

An extensive interview with the Prelate of Opus Dei published on December 15 in Milan's "Corriere della Sera," the best-selling Italian daily.

In Cebu, the Philippines, renowned cubist painter Celso Pepito discovered St. Josemaria's message of the sanctifying value of offering one's work to God and always striving to do one's best.

In his first Apostolic Exhortation, "Evangelii Gaudium," Pope Francis challenges all Catholics to share the message of the Gospel with joy and mercy. With link to Zenit article by Michael Pakaluk on how to read "The Joy of the Gospel."