The Jesuit Post interviewed Father General Adolfo Nicolás SJ during MAGIS 2013 in Brazil. The interview has been divided into five video clips, focussed on Youth Ministry, New & Social Media, Silence, Vocations, and Pope Francis.
On the Youth Ministry
On New & Social Media
SALVADOR, Brazil (CNS) — Using the example of a big-hearted giraffe, the superior general of the Jesuits, Father Adolfo Nicolas, told 2,000 World Youth Day pilgrims: “Keep your eyes and your hearts open.”
The young people from around the world — mostly students from Jesuit universities — had gathered in Salvador on July 12 for a 10-day, pre-World Youth Day programme known as Magis, which means “the more” in Latin. The programme is designed for the young people to examine their lives to see how they can do more for Christ and for others.
Pope Francis drew on some Ignatian themes in his prepared text for his meeting with students from Jesuit schools on June 7. His message was as much to Jesuit educators as to the students.
The Pope spoke of interior freedom, of being men (and women) with and for others, of finding God in our daily life. He wrote: “learn to read the signs of God in your life. He always speaks to us, also through the events of our time and of our everyday existence. It is up to us to listen to him.”
This issue of Promotio Iustitiae (PI 111, 2013/2) aims to help us find in Ignatian spirituality, and in Christian theology more generally, the inspiration we need to develop new and better ways of relating to the natural world so that we are able to love, respect, and protect its integrity more effectively. Five perspectives that explore the spiritual roots of our commitment to the environment are presented. This exploration will hopefully stimulate us to become more decisively involved in the human task of “reconciliation with creation.”
Fr Adolfo Nicolás SJ, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, has become the new President of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG). The UISG represents the superior generals of the more than 200 male religious congregations in the world today.
Pope Francis is the first Jesuit Pope. In a statement issued on March 14, Father General Adolfo Nicolás SJ gave thanks to God for the election of Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio SJ as the Pope, which he said “opens for the Church a path full of hope”. We republish here Fr General’s statement, Pope Francis’ response, and Fr General’s report of his visit with Pope Francis on March 17.
Statement of the Superior General of the Society of Jesus on the election of Pope Francis
The Social Justice and Ecology Secretariat has released “Promotio Iustitiae no.110”, a document dedicated to the Global Ignatian Advocacy Networks, which are centred on five areas – Ecology, Right to Education, Management of Natural Resources and Minerals, Migration, and Peace and Human Rights. “Promotio Iustitiae no.110” provides an introduction to the networks, a theological grounding for Ignatian advocacy, a possible model of collaboration, and position documents on each network, including objectives, and plans for future action.
At the end of April 2012, encouraged by the call made by the 35th General Congregation to promote international networking, a group of Jesuits and lay partners from all over the world gathered at Boston College, USA to reflect on the matter. The group reviewed the concept and current experience of networking, its relationship to the universal mission of the Society of Jesus, its spiritual foundations and heritage, its organizational and governance mechanisms, and the challenges that it poses to the present structure and way of proceeding.
The Conference team is expanding and strengthening. Consultations between the President and Provincials over several months have resulted in the missioning of Jesuits from various Provinces to core positions in the Conference. This generosity of spirit will greatly help the Conference to keep the Society in Asia Pacific oriented towards the service of faith and the promotion of justice.
The appointments announced by Conference President Fr Mark Raper SJ in December are:
Representatives from each Jesuit Province converged on Nairobi, Kenya, for the Congregation of Procurators that was held from July 9 to 15, 2012.
The Congregation of Procurators is called into session by Father General every four years after the end of a General Congregation. The 84 Procurators present were elected by their Provinces and 13 others participated ex officio. There were 7 Procurators from Africa, 14 from Latin America, 18 from South Asia, 7 from Asia Pacific, 29 from South, Central- Eastern and Western Europe, 9 from the United States.