Fr Mark Raper SJ, Superior of the Myanmar Jesuits, writes of the meeting of Pope Francis with his brother Jesuits in Yangon during his visit to Myanmar from November 27 to 30, 2017. The private conversation with Pope Francis … Continued
Pope Francis celebrated Mass with his fellow Jesuits on January 3, in the mother church of the Society of Jesus, the church of the Gesù, in Rome. The Mass marked the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus and gave thanks for the enrollment of the first Jesuit to be ordained a priest, Fr Peter Faber SJ, in the list of the saints. About 350 Jesuits were present.
In his homily, Pope Francis spoke of the particular way in which the Jesuit Order is marked – and desires to be signed – by the name of Jesus: “To march,” he said, “beneath the standard of His Cross”.
With a Pope whose language and behaviour so closely reflect his Jesuit identity, the Society of Jesus is enjoying a period of encouragement in its mission. Pope Francis models a discerning, compassionate, pastoral approach for the Church. Each day he surprises us, yet his initiatives make sense to many people, whether believers or not, whether Christians or not.
Jesuit journals around the world have published an exclusive interview with Pope Francis. The interview was conducted by Fr Antonio Spadaro SJ, editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal, over the course of three meetings held in August 2013 in Rome. His questions were consolidated from those sent by several major Jesuit journals including La Civiltà Cattolica, Thinking Faith and America.
Pope Francis celebrated the Feast of St Ignatius on July 31 with around 300 Jesuits and close collaborators at the Gesù Church in Rome. In his homily, he spoke to three themes, referring repeatedly to the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, a compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices to help people deepen their relationship with God.
The pope spoke of putting Christ at the centre of the Church, of allowing oneself to be conquered by Him to serve and of feeling the shame of our limitations in order to be humble before Him and before one another.
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