Msgr. Ignatius Sotos, the Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in Nigeria will be the chief celebrant at the Mass for the eternal repose of the soul of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo on Tuesday March 22, 2005. Bishop Alvaro del Portillo who died eleven years ago was the Prelate of Opus Dei.

As it falls on Holy Week, the Mass will be that of Tuesday in Holy week. It will take place at Whitesands School Lekki at 6.00 pm.

The cause of Beatification and Canonization of Bishop Alvaro del Portillo was opened in Rome on March 5 2004 by the Vicar of the Pope for Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini.

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints established that for the first phase of the Cause, besides this tribunal of the Vicariate of Rome, a second tribunal of the same canonical competence be conducted by the Prelature of Opus Dei. The sessions of this latter tribunal began on March 20, 2004.