Jesuit General visits Pope in Vatican

The new Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr Adolfo Nicolás, has had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

The audience began with a photo session and then the two sat down for a warm and friendly conversation.  The Pope was pleased to hear that the General Congregation - currently meeting in Rome - had formed a committee to study his letter to Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the previous Superior General.  Then the conversation turned to Japan, where Fr Nicolás had served for 33 years.  Pope Benedict encouraged the General to continue with dialogue with culture and evangelization and to ensure a thorough formation of young Jesuits.  It was also an opportunity for Fr Nicolás to reaffirm his personal respect for the Vicar of Christ as well as the esteem of the whole Society of Jesus, and to convey the desire of the Society to serve the Church all over the world.

Father Nicolás told Pope Benedict that the Jesuits have a custom that the newly elected Superior General should renew his vows before the Pope.  Father Kolvenbach had done that in writing, so Father Nicolás had written out his vows, which he had in an envelope.  The Pope opened the envelope right away and read the vows; then he said, 'This is a very good custom.'

For more about the General Congregation and Fr Nicolás, click here.


 General Congregation 35