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From 11 to 22 November 2025, the city of Belém do Pará (Brazil) hosted the thirtieth United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30—a milestone summit brought to the heart of the Amazon at a moment of profound urgency for the planet. For the first time in history, the COP took place in the world’s largest tropical rainforest, a region central to global climate stability and home to countless Indigenous communities whose voices are essential in the struggle for climate justice. The Society of Jesus, through the Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign, played a coordinated and visible role throughout the summit. A diverse delegation of Jesuits and collaborators gathered from social centres, like JESC, universities, international networks to advocate for a just ecological transition grounded in human dignity. Their participation spanned official negotiations in the Blue Zone, the vibrant civil society spaces of the People’s Summit, and the Tapirí Ecuménico, where churches came together for interfaith dialogue on caring for our common home. The following article offers a comprehensive overview of the outcomes of COP30, the advances made, and the significant gaps that remain—as well as how Jesuit networks contributed to shaping global conversations at this critical juncture. The thirtieth United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) concluded in Belém do Pará after two weeks of intense negotiations and diplomatic challenges. In this context, the presence of the Society of Jesus—through the global Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign—stood out for its coordinated international action and strong engagement on crucial issues of climate justice. For the first time, an international Jesuit campaign brought together around thirty Jesuits and collaborators from social centres, universities, international networks, and the Fe y Alegría Federation. The delegation participated both in the official COP30 spaces, where diplomatic delegations and accredited organisations meet, and in the People’s Summit—home to social movements—as well as the Tapirí Ecuménico, an interfaith space dedicated to dialogue on the care of our common home. A Shared Religious Voice for Climate Justice During the first week, the group helped disseminate Religious Life for Climate Justice: Turning Hope into Action, a document produced with several religious networks and institutions. Its demands focused on three key pillars: ensuring a Just Transition supported by grant-based financing that does not increase the debt burden of vulnerable countries; establishing operational mechanisms for the Loss and Damage Fund; promoting the reform of the global financial architecture, including the cancellation of climate-related debt. On 20 November, Fr. Anderson Pedroso SJ, Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, presented the campaign’s official statement to the COP30 President, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago. The following day, these proposals were shared at a press conference in the Blue Zone. Progress Made—But Still Not Enough After several stalled drafts, the Brazilian presidency finally released the Mutirâo Global document. It proposes to triple adaptation finance by 2030, launch a “Belém Mission for 1.5°C”, open new dialogues on trade, and establish a two-year work programme on climate finance. However, the absence of explicit commitments to phase out fossil fuels and the lack of a clear strategy to tackle deforestation were widely criticised. These gaps reflect the influence of oil-producing countries and the limits of consensus-based negotiations. Among the positive developments, a coalition of states led by Colombia called for a global roadmap to eliminate fossil fuels and announced that Colombia and the Netherlands will host the first Global Transition Conference in 2026. A Major Step Forward: The Just Transition Mechanism One of COP30’s most significant achievements was the creation of an institutional mechanism to coordinate the Just Transition. Until now, discussions on justice in energy transitions largely centred on employment and job conversion. Today, however, initiatives have expanded to include broader concerns such as energy access, raw materials, and energy poverty. This new mechanism will help establish common principles, channel funding, and coordinate global action. The Justice in Mining Network, together with the Jesuit campaign, advocated strongly for this mechanism during a roundtable on energy, critical minerals, and finance—highlighting its potential to unify disparate initiatives under a framework rooted in human rights and environmental protection. A Spirit That Continues Beyond the Summit Beyond the formal negotiations, the experience in Belém left a lasting impression. The vitality of civil society, encounters with Indigenous peoples, and the warmth of interreligious engagement revealed the strength of global solidarity. More than 400 Catholic organisations signed a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to ecological conversion and the care of our common home. Although COP30 has come to a close, the spirit of Belém—a blend of denunciation, solidarity, and celebration—remains alive. The Society of Jesus will continue working to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and that the struggle for climate justice advances with determination.

Interview with Alberto Ares Mateos SJ, director of Jesuit Refugee Service Europe. For the past four years, Alberto Ares SJ has led JRS Europe through some of the most turbulent moments in recent history—from the lingering effects of the pandemic to the large-scale displacement triggered by the war in Ukraine. His leadership has shaped the organisation’s response across 23 country offices, grounding each action in the Jesuit mission of accompaniment and hospitality. Alberto’s commitment to refugees is deeply rooted in his Jesuit vocation, which he has lived through years of working alongside people on the margins. His experiences in migrant neighbourhoods, shelters, and border communities have shaped his understanding of service, justice, and the call to be close to those who suffer. In this interview, Alberto reflects on the personal and spiritual foundations of his mission, the lessons he has learned from forcibly displaced people, the evolving realities of migration in Europe, and the hope that continues to guide JRS Europe forward. He answered the following 7 questions: 1 - You took the role as director of JRS Europe 4 years ago. How would you describe this period? Which tasks/missions/projects have you been involved in? 2. What does it mean to be a Jesuit working at JRS Europe? How do you see your work as a realization of your Jesuit vocation? 3. How do you see the Ignatian tradition guiding JRS in a Europe that often struggles with compassion fatigue toward migrants? 4. What are the main trends or challenges you see in migration across Europe today? 5. What kind of dialogue exists between JRS and European institutions, and what would you like to see improved? 6. What gives you hope in this work, despite the many challenges? 7. If you could convey one message to European leaders — and one to ordinary citizens — (or one to both) about refugees, what would they be?   1. JCEP: You took the role as director of JRS Europe 4 years ago. How would you describe this period? Which tasks/missions/projects have you been involved in? Alberto Ares: The past four years and a half serving at JRS Europe have been profoundly humbling and challenging. When I arrived in September 2021, Europe was still absorbing the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, but what truly defined these years was the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022—an event that would reshape many of our work. This period can be understood through several major phases. First, we strengthened our foundational work: supporting our network of 23 country offices in 245 locations across Europe with nearly 800 staff members and over 6,900 volunteers, reaching around 200,000 individuals seeking protection and dignity in 2024 alone. But the Ukrainian emergency became the defining mission of these four years. We coordinated what we call the One Proposal—a unified Jesuit response to the largest humanitarian displacement in Europe since World War II. Through this initiative, coordinated with the Xavier Network and local partners, we’ve assisted almost 145,000 people with emergency aid, shelter, psychosocial support, education, vocational training, and integration services. What moves me most is how our response evolved: we began with emergency shelter, but as the crisis persisted, we shifted to medium- and long-term integration services. By 2024, eight out of ten of our services were focused on long-term support rather than immediate relief. This taught us something crucial about accompaniment—it’s not a sprint; it’s a committed journey. I have seen how hospitality has transformed our offices, Jesuit communities, and the lives of so many refugees and displaced persons over the years. Because hospitality transforms not only those who enter, but also those who open their doors, when true encounters take place. Many examples from these years come to mind. Simultaneously, we have continued our important work accompanying vulnerable people in detention centres across Europe, publishing joint reports and engaging in serious advocacy. We carried out our work with young people, training and raising awareness among educational communities in a large network of secondary schools across Europe. Our CHANGE programmes have become a benchmark in this field in recent years, involving students, teachers and refugees in different areas such as climate change and participation, among others. We developed the Livelihoods Project, helping displaced people restore their agency and dignity through socio-economic opportunities leading to social inclusion and integration. We strengthened our Communities of Hospitality initiatives where local families and communities welcomed forced migrants into their homes, Gospel hospitality in action. We’ve also intensified our advocacy work at the European Union level, engaging with the European Parliament, the European Commission, and civil society. We participated actively in the adoption discussions of the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, advocating firmly for refugee and migrants rights and warning about the risks of arbitrary detention. We have developed important raising awareness campaigns, especially around the time of the European elections, such as "Dear European Parliament”. This period has required us to be simultaneously present at three levels: with direct service to vulnerable people, with our staff and volunteers supporting them, and at policy tables defending the rights of those who are often forgotten.   2. What does it mean to be a Jesuit working at JRS Europe? How do you see your work as a realization of your Jesuit vocation? To be a Jesuit at JRS Europe is to live at the intersection of contemplation and action—what we call the Ignatian tradition of contemplativus in actione. I live my vocation as a Jesuit with a strong foundation in the Lord of Life, which gives meaning to my life through service and walking alongside the most vulnerable people. St. Ignatius, taught us to find God in all things—Deus in omnibus. When I accompany a migrant person, listen to their story of loss and hope, or sit with a family torn apart by war, I feel God's presence in my life. This is not a metaphor; this is lived reality. Being a Jesuit at JRS Europe means several things for me: My mission is marked by accompaniment. We don’t simply hand out aid. We walk with people—we sit with them, we listen, we learn from them. I have been deeply evangelized by refugees themselves. Their resilience, their faith, their dignity despite everything—they teach me more about hope than I could ever have imagined. This reciprocal accompaniment is Ignatian to the core. My vocation is not only to serve but to advocate for structural change. We cannot simply patch wounds while the system that creates them remains untouched. When we oppose the EU Pact on Asylum and Migration, when we call for safe and legal pathways to asylum, when we document detention abuses in 11 European countries—this is how a Jesuit fulfills the preferential option for the poor. I live this mission as a communal experience. I am not doing this alone. I work with an extraordinary team at JRS Europe and with 23 country offices. The Society of Jesus has always worked in community. We discern together, we challenge each other, we hold each other accountable to our mission. This collaborative approach reflects our Jesuit charism. Finally, the integration of faith and justice is crucial to my vocation. Jesuits are called to be men for others. My faith is not lived in isolation—it’s lived in the faces of people uprooted from their homes, in the determination of a mother seeking asylum for her children, in the solidarity of volunteers who open their homes to strangers. I would say that being a Jesuit at JRS Europe has made my vocation more real, more concrete, more challenging, and ultimately more joyful than I could have imagined.   3. How do you see the Ignatian tradition guiding JRS in a Europe that often struggles with compassion fatigue toward migrants? This is perhaps the most urgent spiritual and pastoral question we face today. Compassion fatigue is real—it’s not a failure of Europeans’ hearts, but a symptom of exhaustion, uncertainty, and often, misinformation. When public sentiment shifts, when neighbours begin to question whether hospitality is sustainable, we face a profound spiritual crisis. In my opinion, the Ignatian tradition offers profound wisdom for this moment: St. Ignatius teaches us that authentic change comes through relationship and encounter. Compassion doesn’t fatigue when it’s based on real human connection—when a European family hosts a refugee family, when they share meals, when they see the humanity of the other. Our Communities of Hospitality embody this: they create spaces where people can encounter each other as full human beings, not as abstractions or problems to be solved. This transforms fatigue into solidarity. Ignatius was a man of profound hope rooted not in naïveté but in faith. He believed that God works in history, that change is possible. In a context of fatigue and resignation, we must cultivate hope as a spiritual practice. Our team speaks of this constantly: panic is never a good advisor, but hope is. When we gather our staff and volunteers, we remind them that every person we accompany, every policy change we achieve, every family that opens its door—these are signs that another Europe is possible. Our Ignatian tradition teaches us to discern between spirits that lead toward life and those that lead toward death. Compassion fatigue, when it turns to xenophobia or despair, represents a death spirit. JRS’s role is to help society discern: Are these narratives that dignify human beings or diminish them? Are these policies that protect life or endanger it? Do these systems reflect our deepest values or betray them? The Ignatian practice of finding God in all things, being contemplatives in action, prevents us from becoming merely pragmatic or cynical. When we work on policy papers at the European Commission, when we visit detention centres, when we coordinate emergency response—we do so as people seeking God. This spiritual practice prevents burnout and grounds us in deeper meaning. Ignatius was a man of schools. We believe that overcoming compassion fatigue requires formation—helping Europeans understand the actual reality of migration, the contributions migrants make, the reasons people are displaced. Our advocacy campaigns, our communications work, our partnerships with educational institutions—these are Ignatian investments in forming conscience. The Ignatian tradition teaches us that compassion is not a feeling that comes and goes. It’s a commitment rooted in faith—a choice to see Christ in the migrant, to stand with the excluded, to work for justice even when it’s unpopular. In a Europe struggling with fatigue, the Ignatian tradition invites us to recommit to this deeper reality again and again.   4. What are the main trends or challenges you see in migration across Europe today? The landscape has shifted dramatically even in the few years I’ve been at JRS Europe. Let me outline what concerns us most: First, the paradox of stabilization amid global crisis: While European irregular arrivals have declined significantly—down 40% compared to previous years—global displacement has reached unprecedented levels. The UNHCR reports 122.6 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Europe’s relative stability masks problems that have been postponed, not solved. We’ve externalized our borders, shifted responsibility to transit countries, and created new obstacles rather than addressing root causes. Second, shifting migration routes and vulnerabilities: The composition of migration to Europe is changing. We’re seeing fewer Syrians and more Venezuelans, increased Central American migration, and the complex dynamics following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria. Each shift brings different protection needs and different vulnerabilities. The Central Mediterranean remains the deadliest route, with over 1,000 deaths recorded this year alone. Third, detention as a default policy: One of our greatest concerns is the normalization of detention. The EU Asylum and Migration Pact, adopted in May 2024, risks institutionalizing arbitrary detention at borders. JRS documents this daily in many European countries. Detention traumatizes people, especially the vulnerable—children, survivors of torture, people with mental health conditions. Yet it’s increasingly presented as an efficiency measure rather than a last resort. Fourth, externalization of responsibility: The EU is pushing agreements with third countries—including Libya, Tunisia, and others with poor human rights records—to process asylum applications outside European territory. This abdicates our legal and moral responsibility and puts vulnerable people at grave risk of refoulement and abuse. Fifth, compassion fatigue and rising xenophobia: We’re witnessing growing intolerance in countries that initially showed extraordinary generosity. In Poland, where nearly 1 million Ukrainians have sought refuge, reports of discrimination and hostility are increasing. This is concerning not just for current refugees but for what it signals about our capacity to welcome in the future. Sixth, integration and long-term support: The gap between emergency response and sustainable integration remains enormous. We’re seeing improved outcomes when we invest in education, livelihoods, and community connection—our Livelihoods Project demonstrates this. Yet European systems often lack coherent long-term integration frameworks. Seventh, the war in Ukraine: The brutal war in Ukraine, with the highest number of displaced persons since the Second World War, poses a major challenge for Europe and for our teams through the One Proposal Project, who are committed to engaging amid so much pain and death. This situation continues to raise serious questions for displaced Ukrainians throughout Europe.   Eighth, labor migration and demographic needs: Beyond humanitarian concerns, there’s a paradox: Europe faces aging populations and labour shortages, yet migration policies remain restrictive. The economic contributions of migrants—often greater than the native-born population in net fiscal terms—are systematically ignored in public discourse. Ninth, the geopolitical context: The war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East and North Africa, climate-driven displacement, and now the incoming U.S. administration’s focus on deportations—all these create volatile conditions. Political rhetoric about migration hardens, even as humanitarian need grows. Our response must address both immediate suffering and these structural challenges. We cannot simply provide services while ignoring the systems that create displacement and vulnerability.   5. What kind of dialogue exists between JRS and European institutions, and what would you like to see improved? We have developed meaningful dialogue with European institutions, and it’s growing—but it could be much deeper and more transformative. Where we engage: JRS Europe participates regularly in the European Parliament and European Commission forums. Our Policy and Advocacy Coordinator engages in high-level meetings on asylum policy. We sit on the Consultative Forums on Fundamental Rights of both Frontex and the EU Asylum Agency. Our country offices meet regularly with MEPs and national authorities. We submit policy papers, organize workshops, and contribute to consultation processes on key legislation like the recent Pact on Asylum and Migration. Where there’s progress: There are receptive ears, especially in certain directorates and among some parliamentarians. There are people in Brussels who genuinely want to understand JRS’s perspective and who are troubled by the same issues we raise. Some of our advocacy positions have influenced discussions. The recognition of alternatives to detention, for example, is gaining traction—partly because organizations like JRS have documented their effectiveness and importance. But there are profound limitations: First, civil society’s voice is structurally marginalized in decision-making. We’re consulted, but often after major decisions have already been made. When the EU Pact was being developed, real civil society input came late in the process. We had to say “no” to a bad law rather than helping shape good policy from the beginning. Second, there’s a fundamental misalignment of priorities. European institutions are increasingly focused on deterrence, border control, and returns—what they call “innovative solutions” to irregular migration. JRS advocates for safe and legal pathways, for hospitality-driven reception, for fundamental rights protection. These agendas can coexist, but only if protection is genuinely prioritized. Third, voices from refugees themselves are almost entirely absent from institutional dialogues. Institutions consult with JRS; they should also directly engage with refugees and migrants. This is not charity—it’s a recognition of their expertise and their right to participate in decisions affecting their lives. Fourth, there’s insufficient acknowledgment of structural causes. Institutions want to manage symptoms—how to process people, how to return them, how to deter them. They’re less interested in addressing why people are displaced: conflict, persecution, climate change, poverty, lack of opportunity. Any serious dialogue must address root causes. What I would like to see improved: Earlier and more substantial civil society participation in policy development, not just consultation after decisions are made Genuine commitment to fundamental rights as a non-negotiable baseline, not as an obstacle to efficiency Investment in long-term integration frameworks rather than temporary solutions that create precarity Recognition of refugees and migrants as active participants in shaping policies, not just objects of policy Coherent European responsibility-sharing so that border countries aren’t overwhelmed while others remain largely unaffected Acknowledgment of the economic and social contributions of migrants rather than framing migration only as a problem to be managed Serious engagement with root causes—working with origin countries on conflict resolution, development, and opportunity creation I believe dialogue is possible. What’s required is the institutional humility to recognize that technical solutions alone won’t solve displacement, and the political courage to prioritize human dignity over deterrence.   6. What gives you hope in this work, despite the many challenges? Despite the difficulties, I am profoundly hopeful. And this hope is not naive—it’s grounded in what I witness daily. First and foremost, hope comes from the refugees and migrants themselves. I’ve met mothers in Bosnia who’ve walked for months with their children, who’ve lost everything, yet who still believe in tomorrow. I’ve sat with young people Ireland who’ve been tortured, who’ve suffered unimaginable trauma, yet who trust that life can be rebuilt. Their resilience evangelizes me. Their faith—often deeper than mine—teaches me what hope really means. They’re not hoping for comfort; they’re hoping to live with dignity, to provide for their families, to contribute to society. This kind of hope is contagious. In our Communities of Hospitality initiatives, I see Europeans choosing generosity. Families who open their homes to strangers. Volunteers who give their time week after week. Communities that choose inclusion over fear. During the Ukrainian crisis, we witnessed extraordinary solidarity across Europe—entire neighborhoods mobilizing to welcome people fleeing war. When you see this, you understand that hospitality is not foreign to European identity; it’s part of our deepest tradition. A few weeks ago, based on our own experience, we published a book entitled ‘Ser puerta abierta’ (Being an Open Door) with my colleagues and friends Jennifer Gómez and María del Carmen de la Fuente, in which we explain how hospitality can transform our own lives and societies. Working with 800 staff and 6,900 volunteers across 23 countries in 245 locations, I see people who’ve chosen this work despite knowing how difficult it is. They’re not there for money or prestige. They’re there because they believe in the dignity of every human being. When we gather our teams, when we share stories of transformation—a refugee who found employment and stability, a young person whose education changed their trajectory, a family that found safety—we remind each other why we do this. This shared commitment is profoundly hopeful. Policy work can feel glacially slow and often heartbreaking. We opposed the EU Pact; it was adopted anyway. But even within the Pact, there are spaces for alternatives to detention, for legal assistance, for human rights safeguards. We’re working on implementation now, pushing European institutions to ensure compliance with fundamental rights. These aren’t the victories we wanted, but they’re spaces where we can continue advocating. Progress often looks different than we imagined. Slowly, the narrative is shifting. More Europeans understand that migrants contribute economically, that they pay more in taxes than they receive in benefits, that diversity strengthens societies. Young people especially are rejecting the xenophobic framing of migration. When I speak at universities or with young volunteers, I sense a different spirit—a hunger for justice, a refusal to accept that things must be this way. Ignatius teaches us that God is always at work in history. Our role isn’t to achieve perfection; it’s to be faithful to the mission. We plant seeds; we may not see the harvest. Every person accompanied, every policy influenced, every conscience formed—these matter eternally, even if we don’t see immediate results. This spiritual perspective prevents despair and grounds my hope in something deeper than political outcomes. JRS works in 58 countries. We’re part of a worldwide movement of solidarity with the displaced. When I connect with colleagues in Africa, Asia, and America, I realize this isn’t a European issue—it’s a human reality. And it’s being met with courage and creativity across the globe. We’re not alone. Most fundamentally, hope comes from the conviction that another Europe is possible. A Europe where human rights aren’t negotiable, where dignity is non-negotiable, where hospitality is the norm rather than the exception. This isn’t utopian thinking; it’s faith-based realism. History shows that change is possible when people commit to it. Our work at JRS is part of building that different Europe.   7. If you could convey one message to European leaders — and one to ordinary citizens — (or one to both) about refugees, what would they be? To European leaders: Your decisions about refugees and migrants will define what Europe becomes. You have the power to choose hospitality or fear, inclusion or exclusion, justice or domination. I urge you: Choose to lead through moral courage, not through political convenience. Specifically, this means: Make safe and legal pathways to asylum a reality, not a slogan. Stop externalizing our responsibilities to countries with poor human rights records. Recognize that sound asylum policy protects human life; it doesn’t threaten it. Invest in integration frameworks that allow people to contribute to your societies. Remember that Europe’s greatest periods of prosperity and innovation have come through openness to those from different places and backgrounds. And recognize this: The way you treat refugees reveals your deepest values. When future generations study your leadership, they will ask: What did you do when millions were displaced? Did you lock your doors, or did you open them? Did you criminalize desperation, or did you respond with compassion? Did you protect fundamental rights, or did you erode them in the name of security? The choices you make now will be your legacy. To ordinary citizens: You have more power than you might think. Your choices matter—from who you vote for to how you speak about migrants and refugees. I want to say: Don’t believe the fear narratives. They’re not serving you or anyone else. The truth is: refugees are not invaders; they’re people who’ve lost everything and are trying to rebuild. Many of them are your neighbours now. Some of their children will study alongside yours. Some will become your colleagues, your friends, perhaps your family members. What I’ve learned through JRS is that encounter changes everything. When Europeans meet migrants and refugees—really meet them, share a meal, hear their stories—compassion returns. Xenophobia thrives in distance and abstraction; humanity thrives in proximity and relationship. So I ask you to: Choose solidarity. Learn the actual facts about migration rather than accepting stereotypes. Support the organizations and leaders who advocate for migrants and refugee rights. If you’re in a position to welcome someone—through hosting, volunteering, or simply treating migrants and refugees with dignity—do so. These acts of individual generosity multiply into social transformation. Recognize that you benefit from migration. Migrants and refugees contribute economically, culturally, and socially to European societies. They’re not taking from you; they’re building with you. Hold on to your humanity in a world that often tries to make compassion seem foolish. The Ignatian tradition teaches us that we’re all made in the image of God. Every refugee is precious. Every migrant deserves dignity. When we accompany, serve and advocate for their rights, we’re caring for the best of what it means to be human. Final remarks This is ultimately a question about the kind of Europe—and the kind of people—we choose to be. Will we be a Europe that closes its doors to the displaced, or opens them? Will we be people who fear difference or celebrate it? Will we protect only our own, or understand that our deepest security comes from justice and solidarity? Human mobility will not disappear. Climate change, conflict, and inequality will continue to drive people from their homes. The question isn’t whether Europe will encounter migrants and refugees—it’s how. Will it be with fear and rejection, or with the courage of hospitality? I believe in Europe’s capacity for the latter. I see it in our volunteers, our communities, our young people. What’s needed is leadership—political and moral—that supports and encourages this capacity. That’s where you come in—whether you’re a policymaker or a citizen. Choose hope. Choose solidarity. Choose justice. Choose to see the face of Christ in every refugee. And together, we’ll build a Europe worthy of its values and its potential.

From November 17th to November 20th, 2025, the provincial treasurers of the Jesuit provinces of Europe and the Near East gathered in Mount Saint Joseph Retreat House in Malta for their annual in-person meeting, dedicated this year principally to IT Security. The group was accompanied by Fr. Sebastian Jeerakassery SJ, General Treasurer of the Society of Jesus, with Agustín Moreira SJ and Jean-Baptiste Ganza SJ from his team at the General Economato. The treasurers were in many cases accompanied by some members of their administration teams, most of them lay collaborators. Even in some cases, because of health issues, the treasurer was represented by one of his lay collaborators. All this shows the high level of collaboration in the mission that is present in this field. The meeting had been carefully prepared by the treasurers' group steering committee (Theo van Drunen SJ, Rik Vanwijnsbergher, Luciano Larivera SJ, Tom O’Brian, and Gonzalo Villagrán SJ). Stephen Scerri, from the EUM administration in Malta, had done an incredible preparation work locally regarding the accommodation and the different visits. All this made the meeting a wonderful and fraternal moment of encounter, exchange, common prayer, and mutual support. We are particularly thankful for the warm welcome and attention to every detail by the team at Mount Saint Joseph Retreat House. Strengthening Communication Through Transparency The meeting began with a time of quiet personal prayer to recall the experiences of the year in the light of the Gospel. It was followed by an exchange in small groups of joys and challenges in our posts. Subsequently, the main economic information was shared about the Conference of Provincials as well as the different provinces. This was a healthy and honest exercise of transparency that shows the high level of communication the group has reached. The first afternoon, we enjoyed an incredible visit to La Valetta, Malta’s capital, which introduced us to the fascinating history of the island, the role of the Knights of Saint John, as well as the British colonial past of the island. For all of the participants, it was a moment to discover the place of Malta in European history as well as the historical role of Jesuits on the island. The visit was followed by a marvelous dinner enjoying the culinary treasures of Malta. Understanding Digital Risks The second day was almost entirely dedicated to the main topic of the meeting: IT Security. First, Prof. Bart Preneel, from KU Leuven, helped the participants to understand the main risks associated with information technologies and the web. In the afternoon, a team (Jorge Rodríguez, Mª Paz Clevería, and Pilar Cortés) in charge of IT Security in ESADE, a Jesuit business school in Barcelona, shared with us the process followed in that institution to put a system of integral IT Security into practice. Both speeches gave us a very clear map of risks, as well as a path of development for the IT Security of the Provinces in the Conference. We are thankful to the speakers, as well as ESADE, for their help in this effort. Managing Real Estate The last day, we had a very interesting and professional presentation from the Province of Spain on how they manage their real estate assets, a main challenge for any province. It was very impressive to see the systematic way in which a reality as complex as real estate is managed in this province. The presentation was followed by a time to see together ways to answer Fr. General’s demand for systems of solidarity in the field of healthcare, particularly for aged Jesuits, inside the Society of Jesus. The team from the General Economato could also talk to the participants in a couple of moments to help us understand better how to do the financial reporting from the provinces, as well as to encourage the provinces to grow in the dynamic of healthcare solidarity. In summary, the meeting was a great occasion to grow together as a real apostolic body in Europe and the Near East, supporting the mission through a careful and inspired administration. Although such an activity is many times not very visible, it is an invaluable contribution to the mission, as the treasurers know well.

JECSE Secondary High School Heads Conference 2025, in Málaga This October 14-17, Secondary School directors from most provinces of Europe gathered in Málaga, Spain, for a 4-day JECSE conference. The title chosen for the conference was: “Sharing the Best We Have: Faith, Community, Mission”. The goal of the organizers was to create a space of gathering for Ignatian Educators to be inspired and challenged by a variety of presentations that led to intense conversation and meaningful moments of prayer. There is no denying that our understanding and experience of key realities such as Faith or Mission can no longer be taken for granted in today’s fast-changing, and increasingly secular world. Being Catholic and Ignatian in name does not guarantee that leaders, teachers, and students in our schools have the “in-depth faith formation” which the most recent Jogjakarta international gathering of the education sector of the Society of Jesus asked for. The mandate to put faith formation at the center of our schools´ life is easily accepted in theory, but not easily put into practice. Nor is there a clear consensus as to how much emphasis should be placed on faith or what the best ways to promote our mission and identity are. JECSE conferences, such as this one, allow people in leadership positions in our schools to take a step back from their busy day-to-day work and view their own personal reality, as well as the concrete context of their schools, with new eyes. These four days together enriched us through individual and communal prayer, silent reflection, inputs from different speakers, and especially the many opportunities for conversation and discussion with our peers from all over Europe. A Welcoming and Diverse Community We were happy to discover that we had veteran participants who have been in their role as directors for a long time, as well as newcomers who were participating in a JECSE event for the first time. The friendly atmosphere in the group made it easy for everyone to feel not just welcome, but like they truly belong. The first question we explored was: “What does it mean to be sent?” Fr. Damian Czerniak SJ, from Poland, helped us explore what it means that our schools are part of the apostolic mission of the Society of Jesus. As usual in JECSE events, there is always plenty of time for moments of individual reflection and also group discussion about the inputs we receive through the different presentations and activities. Deepening Faith and Joy The second day was intense, full of rich presentations in the morning. We began the day led by Fr. Bernard Peeters SJ, from Belgium, in following St. Ignatius’ footsteps and exploring creative ways to enter and be nourished by the Spiritual Exercises. This was followed by a more personal testimony by Mr. Marco Emanuele, an Italian alumnus of Jesuit Schools, who shared with us how the Jesuit education he received shaped him and his faith. It is always encouraging to see how the experiences students go through in our schools can have such a lasting and fruitful impact on their lives. To conclude the morning, Ms. Stéphanie Medina, from Belgium, invited us to discern in our own personal experiences the difference between fleeting joy and deep, lasting joy. This helped us understand, in a very concrete and personal way, how Ignatius’ own discoveries at Manresa can illuminate our own inner experience today. The afternoon began with an insightful exploration of the question: “Can we give what we do not have?” by Mr. Jérome Widemann, from France. His presentation helped us hold the tension between knowing that to share God with others, we ourselves must first experience and possess something from God, but how, at the same time, God often uses us to give to others something that doesn’t come from us because it transcends us. The day concluded in an Ignatian prayer workshop, where I, Mr. Francisco Machado, from Portugal, led participants into two longer periods of personal prayer and shared some practical approaches to understanding and living friendship with God in practical and contemporary ways. From Personal Experience to Communal Discernment The following day focused on translating personal experience into a communal one, and for this, Fr. José de Pablo SJ, from Spain, led with a presentation titled: “Discernment in Common as a tool for community building.” He offered us a nuanced explanation of the many factors at play when we want to do spiritual conversations or communal discernments in our schools. And he gave us useful tools to help us avoid common mistakes that happen when we try to put into practice these very special forms of teamwork. After his presentation, we had time to discuss the topic in mixed groups. The whole afternoon was devoted to a more in-depth experience of Spiritual conversation in small groups led by facilitators. On the final day of the conference, we visited three very different Jesuit Schools in Málaga, San José, SAFA ICET, and San Estanislao, where we had a beautiful conclusion Eucharist presided by the Spanish Education Delegate, Fr. Jaime Badiola SJ, who reminded us that Faith, Community, and Mission are not three separate things but one same reality. Depending on our context and on the moment each of our schools is in, we may choose to begin with, or emphasize one of these doors. But, no matter which we enter first, the path should always lead to the other two dimensions as well. This was the first conference in JECSE’s 3-year cycle focusing on the same theme: “Sharing the best we have: faith, community and mission”. In the upcoming years, we will gather Pastoral Coordinators, then Primary School Directors, and, finally, Pedagogical Coordinators.