In 1975, Álvaro del Portillo succeeded St. Josemaría Escrivá as head of Opus Dei. He was born in Madrid on March 11, 1914. He studied engineering and began working professionally in that field. To his doctorate in engineering he later added doctorates in Theology and Canon Law. In 1935 del Portillo joined Opus Dei, and he was ordained priest on June 25, 1944. He moved to Rome with St. Josemaría in 1946, where he served on Opus Dei's General Council until 1975.
He was a consultant to several congregations and councils of the Holy See, such as the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for the Clergy, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He took part in the Second Vatican Council in various capacities, first as head of the ante-preparatory Commission on the Laity and then as secretary to the Commission on the Discipline of the Clergy, and also as a consultant to other Commissions.
In 1975, Fr. del Portillo was elected as St. Josemaría's first successor. When Opus Dei was established as a personal prelature on November 28, 1982, Pope John Paul II appointed him Prelate of Opus Dei. The Holy Father later ordained him bishop on January 6, 1991. He died in Rome on March 23, 1994. Pope John Paul II went to pray before Bishop del Portillo's remains.
