Note: Since all the articles in this month share a common thread on Bishop Prevost / Leo XIV, we have rearranged them in direct chronological order (against our inverse custom in other months).





IN THIS MONTH

2025

Other Years







What is the connection between Bishop Robert Francis Prevost —now hailed as “Pope” by the Vatican— and Opus Dei?

They would be crazy if they had promoted a bishop openly affiliated with Opus Dei to the position of “Pope”. Why? Because it would put the organization in the global spotlight, and despite their efforts, Opus Dei is still viewed by most of the world as a controversial organization (1). Such a choice would not have served them well now.

Had a “Pope” openly affiliated with Opus Dei been elected, that organization would have become, on an overwhelming scale, the center of a maelstrom of rumors —even open accusations— of conspiracy. It would have done them more harm than good at this stage of the script (2)(3).

So, what choice would be most favorable to Opus Dei that we can imagine right now for the election of a “Pope”? Certainly this one: A bishop who, while not affiliated with the organization, has the utmost sympathy for them. Better yet, one who, having had close contact with them for many years, continues to have the utmost sympathy for them.

Does Bishop Prevost fit that profile?  [Permanent link]

We will not respond directly to that question now. Instead, in upcoming posts, God willing, we will provide you with the necessary information so that you can answer the question yourself.










INTRODUCTION

What choice would be most favorable to Opus Dei [1] that we can imagine right now for the election of a “Pope”? Certainly this one: One who, having had close contact with them for many years, continues to have the utmost sympathy for them.

Where does Robert Francis Prevost come from as a bishop? Where has he served for at least ten years as a bishop, until recently? The answer is: Peru. (2025cahi1)

And what is the situation of Opus Dei in Peru? See for yourself...

NEWS ITEM 1

Over the last 35 years —according to data from a well-known Catholic website (2025cahi2) that keeps an up-to-date list of Opus Dei affiliated bishops by consulting the Pontifical Yearbook (2025wianpo)— there have been officially 38 bishops affiliated with the Personal Prelature of Opus Dei worldwide, distributed with episcopal sees in 20 different countries and some in supranational institutions. [2]

According to these lists, the country with the most Opus Dei officially affiliated bishops worldwide is Peru, with 5 bishops. It is followed by Brazil (with 4), Argentina (3), Chile (3), Ecuador (2), and Venezuela (2); then come countries with only 1 bishop. In addition, one of these bishops affiliated with Opus Dei, who was bishop in Peru, is a cardinal (Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne), although he is currently under sanction (2025biac) (2025vane).

Although Spain has only had one such bishop, the connection between this group of bishops and Spain is tremendous: 12 of the 38 were born in Spain and at least 8 of them were ordained priests in Spain despite not being Spanish. This is logical, because Spain is the birthplace of Escrivá de Balaguer and his Opus Balaguer [3]. However, apart from the special case of Spain, Peru is the country with the largest presence of Opus Dei bishops in the world.





REFERENCES



APPENDIX TO NEWS ITEM 1 (Opus Dei's bishops in Peru)

Checksums of the data from source 2025cahi2

[Back to main article]

Number of bishops officially affiliated with the “Personal Prelature of Opus Dei” (“Sanctae Crucis et Operis Dei”)




Total: 19+14+5=38 bishops, 20 countries.

In this account we do not include Fernando Ocáriz Braña, although he is listed in the source consulted, because he was not a bishop despite the fact that he was the maximum prelate of Opus Dei.

Of this list, the one who passed away most years ago is Álvaro del Portillo (1994). That was 31 years ago (we are in 2025 now). So, rounding up, we said at the beginning that this is “in the last 35 years”.

Another interesting fact is that, from this list of bishops, apart from the 10 deceased, 12 are retired (due to age or equivalent cause), 1 resigned (González Errázuriz) and 1 is sanctioned (Cardinal Cipriani). Therefore, there are only 14 active (in May 2025).








As many of you know, the creator or founder of Opus Dei was Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. His followers call him “the Father” — thus he is, for them, both the Father and the Creator of “the Work” — apparently, no true light existed before him on reflecting Christian virtues on ordinary life — he showed “the Way”.

What is the meaning of the “de Balaguer” part of his full name?

According to common dictionaries of the Spanish Language (our translation to English):  (4)











Therefore, from the root word, “de Balaguer” would be like saying “from the chaff” or “made out of chaff”.

Of course, everyone remembers when did Jesus used the term “chaff”, but just in case...


and confirming it, “just in case”...


Since we published the above information in 2012, we have found an Opus Dei-friendly Spanish site (5), featuring an online “Bible dictionary”, with an idea that apparently would cushion the problem of the name “de Balaguer” for them.

In their article (6) (in Spanish) dedicated to the word “balaguero” (meaning “a large pile of threshed straw”, according to them) they do not make any connection of this term to the Bible — which is interesting, considering that, on this subject, Jesus' metaphor of the chaff immediately comes to the mind of anyone who knows the Bible – and this is allegedly a “Bible dictionary”.

Since the Spanish word “balaguero” never appears in a Spanish Bible (4), you may wonder what they are attempting to clarify, if not the Bible, because they do make an effort to present a very favorable connotation of the meaning of “balaguero”:


Now, anyone can choose the symbolism he/she wants, or no symbolism at all. Glory be to God! – because those who are not destined to see will look at the other Way. [Mark 4:12]

Regarding the value of symbols, if anyone wants advice from the Vatican, it seems to be this: remember that the Vatican does not pay as much attention to symbolism as Jesus did (7).





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INTRODUCTION

What would have been the most favorable option for Opus Dei (1) that we can imagine right now for the election of a “Pope”? Certainly this: Someone who, having had contact with them for many years, continues to have the utmost sympathy for them. (2)

How about Bishop Prevost? Bishop Prevost, 69, now hailed as “Pope”, has spent most of his career as a missionary in Peru. Prevost, who was born in Chicago, is also a Peruvian citizen (since 2015). From 2014 to 2023, he served as administrator, and then archbishop, of Chiclayo, Peru. (3)

And what is the situation of Opus Dei in Peru? See for yourself...


NEWS ITEM 2

[Note: Huancavelica is geographically very far from Chiclayo and Lima, but distances in Peru are very long in general. (4)]

In the diocese of Huancavelica in Peru, the presence of Opus Dei is so strong that the bishop emeritus, in his farewell speech, felt it appropriate to explain to the public and to his successor “that the diocese he led for almost 20 years in the Peruvian Andes does not belong to Opus Dei” (in words summarized by ACI Prensa).

Imagine: 20 years at the head of the diocese and there was still confusion “in the clerical and religious world” about the diocese's relationship with Opus Dei. This happened not long ago, in July 2021. And keep in mind that ACI Prensa, which reported the news, is a media agency in the orbit of Opus Dei. The following is an excerpt from the article: (5)


And also:
[our notes in brackets]


Ladies and gentlemen: It is not normal for 1 in 5 priests in a diocese to belong to Opus Dei. And this is happening in Peru, the country of Bishop Prevost, whom the world is now welcoming as “Pope”.

The fact that Monsignor Barrio uses the word “only” when he says “only 10 out of 50” indicates that he has acquired his own concept of “normality” after living with them for so long. Either that, or he is a conscious accomplice in wanting to soften the facts so that his faithful will accept a reality that he knows would not be normal in any diocese or country.

On the other hand, if the bishop “shares the spirituality of the Prelature of Opus Dei” (as he says) and the 50 priests of his diocese share the spirituality of their bishop, it immediately follows that the 50 priests of his diocese share the spirituality of the Prelature of Opus Dei — unless it is a spiritually divided diocese.

Therefore, the spiritual government of the diocese is twinned with Opus Dei.

The bishop says that “Opus Dei... will never interfere in the government of the diocese”. Of course, it is not necessary for them to influence directly the material government of the diocese, as long as the spiritual government is united with that of Opus Dei. It is like two brothers who, under the same spirit, are very clear about the division of their material goods.

The bishop says that “Opus Dei... will never tell you what to do”. Of course, this is not necessary, because if you are spiritually twinned with Opus Dei, your actions will be in harmony with the spirit of Opus Dei. Any action by the bishopric that benefits Opus Dei within the territory of the diocese will not be seen as an influence of Opus Dei, but as an action in harmony with a common spirit — such as, for example, allowing 1 in 5 priests to be members of Opus Dei and publicly sanctioning this fact as something “normal.”

Here is an example of a bishop so absorbed by the “normality” of Opus Dei that he has lost his guard and failed to recognize the spiritual signs that would be so useful to his faithful. (6)

Is this the kind of ‘normality’ regarding Opus Dei that Bishop Prevost, coming from Peru, will also allow and sanction now from his position as “Pope” in the Vatican?









Regarding Prevost / Leo XIV friendship with Opus Dei:

What literal and highly symbolic handshake took place even before his inaugural pontifical Mass?

See for yourself...

Highlighted events in the Election of Bishop Prevost as "Pope Leo XIV" (L16), traced through Vatican News:



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According to a well-known Roman Catholic website:  (1)(2)










When Prevost arrived as bishop in Chiclayo, Peru, he inherited 45 years of Opus Dei tradition in the diocese, either because the two previous bishops were members of Opus Dei, or because the first was a member and the second, in any case, was a great supporter and ally of Opus Dei.

The first (Orbegozo) did a great job of establishing Opus Dei in Peru thanks to the 30 years he spent in this position in Chiclayo (and before that, 11 years in Yauyos as Prelate). We have no information that the second (Labarte) repudiated or broke ranks with Opus Dei during his 15 years in office; quite the contrary.


Who were the two bishops who preceded Prevost in the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru?

From 1968 to 2023, the bishops of the Diocese of Chiclayo were:



About Bishop Ignacio María de Orbegozo y Goicoechea:

Born in Spain, he was one of Escrivá's first followers and a priest of Opus Dei (2002opli1). His membership in Escrivá's organization was publicly known (2025caorbe). He consecrated Enrique Pèlach and Isidro Sala Ribera as bishops, both members of Opus Dei (2025caorbe; 2025wienpe; 2004chie). He consecrated Jesús Moliné Labarte (who later became his successor) as bishop, also a member of Opus Dei (according to 2025pill and 2004chie) or, at the very least, a valuable supporter and ally of Opus Dei.

He was the first Prelate of Yauyos (from 1957 to 1968), Peru, a territory whose ecclesiastical administration was entrusted by Pius XII (and remains assigned) exclusively to Opus Dei since 1957 under the figure of Territorial Prelature (2025cayauy; 2025prya). Josemaría Escrivá personally entrusted Orbegozo (when he was still merely a priest, not a bishop) with the task of setting up the Territorial Prelature of Yauyos, sending him from Spain (2025prya; 2024opli; 2014opli).

He was bishop of the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, from 1968 until his death in 1998 (2025caorbe; 2025usat1). He was a delegate of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference at several Synods of Bishops (2025usat2) — Read: the collective of bishops of Peru agreed to be represented by a bishop of Opus Dei.

He founded the Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Catholic University (USAT) in Peru, in the province of Chiclayo, in 1998, a university promoted and sponsored by the Bishopric of Chiclayo (2025usat3). The university is located on San José María Escrivá de Balaguer Street (2025usat4).

He promoted the Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Seminary in the Diocese of Chiclayo, inaugurated in 1972, for the formation of priests (2025sech), while Escrivá “encouraged him from Rome to devote himself to vocational work” [that is, the work of attracting vocations and forming priests] (2025dich). In 2000, the seminary signed an affiliation agreement with the Faculty of Theology of the University of Navarra-Pamplona, Spain (2025sech) — a university founded by Escrivá, run by Opus Dei (2025wiunna) and a world reference center for members of Opus Dei pursuing higher studies in theology.

For 30 years, the diocese of Chiclayo was governed by this bishop of Opus Dei, and he was not just any member of Opus Dei, but one who had been guided directly by Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer to introduce Opus Dei to Peru.


About Bishop Jesús Moliné Labarte/Labarta:  (1)

He was bishop of the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, from 1998 to 2014 (retired due to age), succeeding Orbegozo (2025cachic; 2025calaba). He was consecrated bishop by the same Ignacio María de Orbegozo y Goicoechea, a prominent bishop of Opus Dei, about whom we have already provided information above (2025calaba). In 2014, Labarte consecrated Robert Francis Prevost as bishop (2025calaba).

Thus, Prevost was consecrated by a bishop who, in turn, had been consecrated by the first star of Opus Dei in Peru, Bishop Orbegozo, who had been commissioned by Escrivá himself to introduce Opus Dei to Peru through the Territorial Prelature of Yauyos. Prevost could not have been unaware of these facts. Prevost was consecrated by Labarte, and Labarte was consecrated by Orbegozo — in colloquial terms: Prevost's episcopal “grandfather” was Opus Dei.

Labarte (who is retired and turned 75 in 2025) has been (and is) a member of Opus Dei, according to two Catholic sources consulted (2025pill; 2004chie). In April 2007, he denied belonging to the Prelature of Opus Dei (one of the two main sections of the organization), but he did not deny belonging to the Priestly Society of Opus Dei (officially, “Priestly Society of the Holy Cross”), the second main section of Opus Dei (2007acpr). Even if he was not a member, it is clear that he was, at the very least, a very valuable supporter and ally of Opus Dei.

In 2013, Bishop Labarte, together with the regional vicar of Opus Dei, led the religious delegation at the inauguration of San Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer Street in Chiclayo and blessed the street. At the same event, a statue of Josemaría Escrivá was unveiled and blessed by Bishop Labarte, and the mayor declared the regional vicar of Opus Dei (Emilio Arizmendi) an illustrious guest and presented him the key to the city. (2023gope; 2023opde)

Read: Symbolically, Prevost (who would succeed Labarte) has been bishop in a city/diocese whose key has been handed over to Opus Dei, and which has elevated an abomination (2) to the rank of venerable idol as an example to all.

In 2014, a year after the blessing of that street and that statue, Labarte consecrated Robert Francis Prevost as bishop (2025calaba). Prevost could not have been unaware that his consecrating bishop venerated the founder of Opus Dei, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, in such a special way.

Labarte collaborated significantly in the development of the Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo Seminary in Chiclayo (“seminary”: center for the formation of priests), which had initially been impulsed by the first star of Opus Dei in Peru, Bishop Orbegozo (2025dich; 2025sech).

Read: Thanks to Orbegozo and Labarte having established the seminary from a vocation linked to Opus Dei, the ground was prepared to flood Peru with Opus Dei priests or, at the very least, sympathizers and friends of Opus Dei. A sign confirming the success of this operation is the testimony of Bishop Emeritus Isidro Barrio, of the Diocese of Huancavelica, Peru, which we published a few days ago (3), reporting that 1 in 5 priests in his diocese belong to Opus Dei, along with the climate that “that figure is normal, there's nothing to see here”.

... and Robert Prevost has lived, accepted, and comes from that “normality”.





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En Español:  Para vuestra Información y Referencia - Mayo 2025