Pope praises Jesuit fidelity and zeal

Pope Benedict XVI greeted Jesuits and their associates at St Peter's Basilica last weekend, and thanked them for their faithfulness to their founder's vision and to the papacy.

The Holy Father was addressing a sizable delegation of Jesuits and their co-workers at the close of a Mass to mark the Society of Jesus' triple Jubilee Year: the 450th anniversary of Ignatius of Loyola's death, and the 500th birthday of St Francis Xavier and of Blessed Peter Favre.

Calling St Ignatius, 'a man of God' and 'a faithful servant of the Church', Pope Benedict warmly thanked the Jesuits for continuing to honour the vow of 'special obedience' to the Pope. 'This ecclesial character, so specific to the Society of Jesus, continues to be present in your persons and in your apostolic activity, dear Jesuits, as you make yourselves able to encounter faithfully the Church's urgent necessities of each time,' said the Pope.

The Pope highlighted two areas in which he urged the Jesuits to continue working, in addition to theology and philosophy: 'the dialogue with modern culture' and education.  After singling out Stonyhurst College for a special welcome, Pope Benedict told the congregation: 'Continue, dear Jesuits, this important apostolate, maintaining unaltered the spirit of your Founder.'

Pope Benedict concluded by calling St Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Favre 'a model … for all future Jesuits to follow' - because of their missionary work both in Asia and Europe - and re-dedicating the Society of Jesus to the Blessed Virgin Mary.