Pope Francis has expressed condolences to the members of Opus Dei following the death of Bishop Javier Echevarria, who led the prelature for over 20 years.
The 84-year-old bishop, who once served as secretary to the personal prelature's founder, St Josemaria Escriva, passed away yesterday.
Expressing his condolences, Pope Francis said Bishop Echevarria, like his predecessors, "gave his life in a constant service of love to the church and to souls."
"I join you in your prayers of thanksgiving to God for his paternal and generous witness of priestly and episcopal life," the Pope told Opus Dei members.
