Editing Opus Dei (section)

=== Governance ===
{{Main|Personal prelature}}
In Pope John Paul II's 1982 decree known as the [[Apostolic constitution]] ''Ut Sit'', Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature, an official structure of the [[Catholic Church]], similar to a [[diocese]] in that it contains lay people and secular priests led by a bishop. However, whereas a bishop normally has a territory or diocese, the prelate of Opus Dei is pastor to the members and priests of Opus Dei worldwide, no matter what diocese they are in. Opus Dei is the only personal prelature in existence.<ref name="Press Office of the Holy See 2022" /> In addition to being governed by ''Ut Sit'' and by the Catholic Church's general law, Opus Dei is governed by the church's Particular Law concerning Opus Dei, otherwise known as Opus Dei's statutes. This specifies the objectives and workings of the prelature. The prelature is under the [[Congregation for Bishops]].<ref name="Pope John Paul II 2006">{{cite web |url=http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CBISUTSI.HTM |author=Pope John Paul II |title=Apostolic Constitution ''Ut Sit'', Establishing Opus Dei as the first Personal Prelature of the Catholic Church |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=10877 |work=Opus Dei Official Site |title=Place in the Church |access-date=27 November 2006}}</ref>

Opus Dei's highest assembled bodies are the General Congresses, which are convened once every eight years. There are separate congresses for the men's and women's branches of Opus Dei. The General Congresses are made up of members appointed by the prelate and are responsible for advising him about the prelature's future. The men's General Congress also elects the prelate from a list of candidates chosen by their female counterparts.<ref name="82STATUTES">[http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=12491 Original Latin version] on Opus Dei Official Site</ref> After the death of a prelate, a special elective General Congress is convened. The women nominate their preferred candidates for the prelate and is voted upon by the men to become the next prelate—an appointment that must be confirmed by the Pope.<ref name="82STATUTES" />

The head of the Opus Dei prelature is known as the prelate.<ref name="Pope John Paul II 2006" /> The prelate is the primary governing authority and is assisted by two councils—the General Council (made up of men) and the Central Advisory (made up of women).<ref>{{cite web |title=What is Opus Dei – Governance |url=http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=13018 |access-date=28 November 2006 |work=Opus Dei Official Site}}</ref> The prelate holds his position for life. The current prelate of Opus Dei is [[Fernando Ocáriz Braña]], who became the third prelate of Opus Dei on 23 January 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Monsignor Ocariz confirmed as new Prelate of Opus Dei |url=https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/35290/monsignor-ocariz-confirmed-as-new-prelate-of-opus-dei |access-date=24 January 2017 |agency=Catholic News Agency}}</ref> The first prelate of Opus Dei was [[Álvaro del Portillo]], who held the position from 1982 until his death in 1994.<ref>{{cite web |title=Opus Dei |url=http://www.ideasrapidas.org/opusdeii.htm |access-date=27 November 2006 |work=IdeasRapidas.org}}</ref>