This is a list of prominent Opus Dei members. It is intended to include people whose membership in Opus Dei is documented in published sources, and therefore a matter of public record.
The names of Opus Dei directors and priests are available in official Catholic journals and Opus Dei's official bulletin, Romana.
Opus Dei maintains lists of cooperators, who are not considered by Opus Dei to be members, and who do not even have to be Roman Catholics, but who agree to assist with the work of Opus Dei in any of various ways. Such cooperators are not included in this list.
This article should by no means be considered an exhaustive list of past and present members and sympathisers of Opus Dei involved in political, religious, cultural, academic or literary life.
Opus Dei policy on publicizing membership
Opus Dei treats membership status of its lay members in a confidential manner, having a stated policy of neither confirming nor denying the membership of Opus Dei until the member in question has publicly acknowledged his or her membership.
Opus Dei supporter William O'Connor wrote that a person's spiritual life is a private matter, and that the practice of not divulging membership lists is common to many organizations such as trade unions, hospitals, schools and clubs. He stated that it is part of the secular nature of vocation to Opus Dei that its members do not represent the religious organization which provide them with spiritual instruction, in the same way that professionals do not externally represent their alma maters. According to several journalists who wrote independently on Opus Dei accusations of secrecy come from a clericalist mentality which equates Opus Dei members with monks and priests, the traditional symbols of holiness who are externally identifiable as such.
Detractors argue that, given Opus Dei's strong defence of traditional Catholic positions in social and moral matters, especially in regard to anti-abortion and marriage, membership of the organisation is indeed relevant to exercising functions in the public domain. In addition, Opus Dei states that it is a non-political organisation and does not direct or try to influence its members in any way in the fulfillment of their professional duties, whether in the public or private sphere, except where such activities impinge on their duties as Catholics.
For the most part, Opus Dei members belong to the low and middle class in terms of income, social status and education.Messori, Vittorio (1997). Opus Dei, Leadership and Vision in Today's Catholic Church. Regnery Publishing. Among its members are barbers, bricklayers, mechanics, and fruit sellers. Most supernumeraries are living ordinary middle-class lives.
Government and Civil Service José María Albareda (1902–1966), Secretary General and head of the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas). He was close friend of Escrivá and one of the first numerary members of Opus Dei. He was also a close friend of José Ibáñez Martín, Minister of Education for Franco from 1939 to 1951, who is wrongly credited with sponsoring the great expansion of Opus Dei into Spanish third-level education during that period. Mario Fernández Baeza (born 1947), Interior Minister of Chile. Belongs to the left-leaning Christian Democratic Party. Paola Binetti (born 1943), Senator in Italy. A numerary member. Binetti belonged to the christian-social party La Margherita (“The Daisy”), the Democratic Party and now the Union of the Centre. Juan José Espinosa San Martín (1918–1982), Minister for Finance (1965–1969, Spain under Franco). Jesus Estanislao (born 1939), Secretary of Economic Planning and subsequently Finance Secretary of the Philippines under Corazon Aquino (1989–1992), who toppled the dictatorial government of Ferdinand Marcos. A numerary member of Opus Dei, who started Opus Dei in the Philippines. Jorge Fernández Díaz (born 1950), Spanish politician of the Partido Popular, former minister of the Interior. Antonio Fontán (1923–2010), President of the Senate of Spain in 1977–1979. A journalist who advocated free elections and trade unions and was persecuted by Franco. He helped draft Spain's new democratic constitution after Franco.Casas Rabasa, Santiago "Conversación en Madrid con Antonio Fontán" Anuario de Historia de la Iglesia Vol. 15 (2006) p. 333-365 ISSN 1133-0104 Faustino García-Moncó Fernández (1916–1996), Minister for Trade (1965–1969, Spain under Franco). Rory O'Hanlon (1923–2002), Professor of Criminal and Constitutional Law at University College Dublin and High Court Judge in Ireland (1981–1995). He was dismissed by the Irish Government from Presidency of the Law Reform Commission in 1992, after commenting that if membership of the EU forced the introduction of abortion to Ireland, the country should withdraw from the Union. He later sued the Government and won substantial damages. He was a supernumerary member of Opus Dei. Robert Hanssen (1944–2023), FBI agent who was convicted of spying for the Soviet Union and Russia. His treason has been described as "possibly the worst intelligence disaster in US history." A supernumerary, he reportedly left Opus Dei after his arrest. Fernando Herrero Tejedor (1920–1975), Secretary General of the Movimiento (Franco's political party) (1975).
Ruth Kelly (born 1968), former British Transport Secretary, Labour Party (traditionally center left) in the United Kingdom. John L. Allen Jr. states that she is a supernumerary member in his book Opus Dei. Guillermo Lasso (born 1955), President of Ecuador and supernumerary of Opus Dei. Joaquín Lavín (born 1953), politician in Chile, twice defeated in his bid for the presidency of Chile. He is a member of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) party and former mayor of Santiago and Las Condes municipalities of capital Santiago. He was also Minister of Education and Social Development (2010–2013) Gregorio López Bravo (1923–1985), Minister for Industry (1963–1969, Spain under Franco), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1969–1973). A supernumerary. Mario Maiolo (born 1963), Vice-president of the province of Cosenza. He belonged to the Italian Peoples' Party, La Margherita and later the Democratic Party. He is a supernumerary. Alberto Michelini (born 1941), Italian film director, journalist and politician, member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies and Member of the European Parliament for Christian Democracy and subsequently center-right Forza Italia party. A supernumerary member. Vicente Mortes Alfonso (1921–1991), Minister for Housing (1969–1973, Spain under Franco). A supernumerary Patrick Ngugi Njoroge (born 1961), PhD, Kenyan economist, banker and the governor of the Central Bank of Kenya. Jorge Rossi Chavarría (1922–2006), Vice-President of Costa Rica in 1971–1974. He co-founded the National Liberation Party (PLN), a social democrat party. He was a supernumerary of Opus Dei. Adolfo Suárez (1932–2014), President of Government in the democracy in Spain from 1978 to 1982, was a supernumerary member of Opus Dei. Federico Trillo-Figueroa y Martínez-Conde (born 1952), Spanish politician of the Partido Popular, ex-chairman of the Spanish Chamber of Representatives, former minister of Defence ambassador for Spain in the United Kingdom. Alberto Ullastres Calvo (1914–2001), Spanish Minister of Trade (1957–1965). He is one of the members of Opus Dei who were appointed by Franco as ministers (Spain under Franco). He pushed forward the so-called Plan of Stabilization which brought about Spain's transition from economic autarchy to liberalization and internationalization of the national economy. Przemysław Wipler (born 1978), Polish MP, a supernumerary as of 2023.
Writing and journalism
Joaquín Navarro-Valls (1936–2017), physician and journalist who later served as the Director of the Vatican Press Office, taking the post in 1984. A numerary member. Robert Duncan, journalist.Allen says he is a member in his book, Opus Dei. An ombudsman for foreign press in Spain; vice-president of OPCI Ibero-American press association; vice-president of APSCE, association for energy and telecommunications; past executive board member for Spain's oldest and largest foreign press body, the Club Internaciónal de Prensa; editor for Spero News and EnerPub. Rafael Calvo Serer (1916–1988), editor and founder of Diario Madrid who was hounded into exile for his criticism of Franco, who closed the publication. Although Messori states that Calvo, by working underground, helped to bring democracy to Spain, According to some, he did not oppose Francoism, but Franco himself about Franco's succession (see Preston 623-3, 663 and 671). Antonio Fontán (1923–2010), journalist who advocated free elections and trade unions in Spain under Franco. Later served as President of the Senate and helped draft Spain's new democratic constitution. Francisco Fernández Carvajal (born 1938), wrote In Conversation with God, which has sold over two million copies in several languages, including Spanish, English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Romanian, Slovak and Polish. It consists of over 450 meditations, one or more for every day of the year, as well as three meditations for each Sunday, corresponding to the three-year cycle in the Catholic lectionary. Pilar Urbano (born 1940), Spanish journalist whose interviewing technique has become a model for other journalists. Numerary. Cesare Cavalleri (1936–2022), Italian literary critic and publisher. He received the Premio internazionale Medaglia d'oro per la Cultura cattolica (International Golden Medal Award for Catholic Culture). Michael Adams (died 2009), Irish publisher, was a numerary member and the Managing Director of Four Courts Press, Ireland's largest academic publishing house. Adams was the author of a book Censorship: The Irish Experience, which was critical of the operation of the former Irish system of literary censorship. Paul Dumol, Filipino playwright, famous for Paglilitis ni Mang Serapio. He is also the Chairman of the Philippine Center for Civic Education and Democracy.Larry Henares, Saints and Sinners Alexandre Havard (born 1962), French writer on management and self-development.
Academia
Ignacio Rodriguez-Iturbe (1942–2022), Venezuelan-American scientist and is James S. McDonnell Distinguished University Professor at Princeton University. He received the 2002 Stockholm Water Prize for his role in developing the science of hydrology. He believes in global warming and evolutionary theory and rejects intelligent design. Mariano Artigas (1938–2006), received Templeton Foundation Award in 1995 for his work on science and religion. He wrote The Mind of the Universe: Understanding Science and Religion and fifteen other books on science and religion.Romana #31 July 2000 John F. Coverdale (born 1940), law professor at Seton Hall University. Scott Hahn (born 1957), American theologian, former Presbyterian pastor and convert to Catholicism. He is best known for his conversion story Rome Sweet Home and theology books like The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth or First Comes Love: Finding Your Family in the Church and the Trinity. He recounts his membership in Opus Dei in his book Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei.Scott Hahn: Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei (excerpt), 2006 A supernumerary. Bernardo Villegas (born 1939), Founded the Center for Research and Communication, which became the University of Asia and the Pacific. José Orlandis (1918–2010), historian who is known for his work ''Short History of the Catholic Church. He recounts his early years in Opus Dei in his book Años de Juventud en el Opus Dei