35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus opens in Rome

The 35th General Congregation has been opened in Rome with a solemn two-hour ceremony in the Gesú, the mother church of the Society of Jesus.

Cardinal Franc Rodé, Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, presided at the Eucharistic celebration.  On the sanctuary, the Jesuit General, Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, and Cardinals Roberto Tucci, Thomas Spidlik and Urbano Navarrete (the three Jesuit Cardinals who reside in Rome) concelebrated.  The church was filled with members of the Congregation, including the British Provincial, Fr Michael Holman, and Fr David Smolira from the South Africa Region (part of the British Province).  The congregation also included Jesuits serving in Rome as well as members of religious congregations of Ignatian spirituality and the laity.

In his homily the Cardinal spoke of his 'heartfelt gratitude' to Father Kolvenbach who is resigning at this Congregation, speaking of his fidelity, his wisdom, his righteousness and his example of humility and poverty.  In the rest of the homily, the Cardinal, using the Constitutions and the Spiritual Exercises, highlighted the core elements of Ignatian spirituality: its apostolic charism, obedience to the Holy Father and the sentire cum ecclesia (thinking with the Church).  The Cardinal expressed sorrow and anxiety because in his estimation the sentire cum ecclesia is diminishing among some members of religious families.

Addressing himself directly to the Jesuits, the Cardinal mentioned 'the many institutes of Consecrated Life who, following an Ignatian spirituality, pay attention to your choices: there are many future priests in your Colleges and Universities…There are many people from both within and outside the Church who frequent your centres of learning seeking a response to the challenges which science, technology and globalization pose to humanity, with the hope of receiving a formation which will make it possible for them to construct a world of truth and freedom, of justice and peace…'

At the end of the Mass, the Cardinal, accompanied by Father General, moved to the altar of Saint Ignatius where there is a magnificent statue of the founder of the Society of Jesus, which is only revealed on special occasions.  In front of the altar, Father General lit a lamp which will burn during the General Congregation as a symbol of the continuous prayer of the Society throughout the world.