Pope Francis has modified the Code of Canon Law on personal prelatures. It is a change that has direct consequences on Opus Dei—the only prelature that currently exists.
The first change is that from now on, personal prelatures are considered as “public clerical associations of pontifical right.”
The other change affects the position of the prelate. The person will now act as a “moderator” who will also be “endowed with the authorities of an ordinary.”
Most of the people who form the Opus Dei prelature are lay people. The third change introduced underlines their belonging to their own parish and diocese.
At the request of the Vatican, Opus Dei is currently revising its bylaws. The prelature has indicated in a statement that they will study the changes introduced by the Vatican to see what impacts they will have on its structure.
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