In July, Pope Francis approved the miracle needed for the beatification of Msgr. del Portillo, who served as the head of Opus Dei from 1975 until his death in 1994.

The cure accepted as a miracle through his intercession involved a Chilean newborn baby boy, Jose Ignacio Ureta Wilson, who recovered after being in cardiac arrest for 30 minutes and suffering a massive hemorrhage.

The prelature of Opus Dei announced Jan. 22 that Pope Francis approved the date of Sept. 27 for the beatification ceremony, which will be presided over by Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes.

The future Blessed del Portillo was born March 11, 1914, in Madrid and studied engineering at university. He joined Opus Dei in 1935, just seven years after it was founded, and in 1944 was ordained as one of the movement's first three priests.