Fourth week of General Congregation 36.

Pope Francis’ Visit to the Congregation

The Holy Father walked into the Hall of the General Congregation on Monday 24th October 2016. His was a presence so serene as he took part in the Morning Prayer and gave his blessing to GC delegates.

Pope Francis came with a message. He gave an encouraging speech that set a direction. The speech gave a good idea of the manner in which he is coming to see the service of the Church and of the world that the Society of Jesus can offer, a relevant way connected to his own ministry. His whole intervention was characterized by an openness to what lies ahead, a call to go further, a support for walking, the way of journeying that allows Jesuits to go toward others and to walk with them on their own journey.

The Holy Father detailed three areas of the Society’s path; we will come back to each of them in the coming days.

• The first is to “ask insistently for consolation.” 

• Next, Francis invites us to “allow ourselves to be moved by the Lord on the cross.” 

• Finally, the Holy Father invites us to go forward under the influence of the “good spirit.” This implies always discerning, which is more than simply reflecting, how to act in communion with the Church. The Jesuits must be not “clerical” but “ecclesial.” They are “men for others” who live in the midst of all peoples, trying to touch the heart of each person, contributing in this way to establishing a Church in which all have their place, in which the Gospel is inculturated, and in which each culture is evangelized.

Click here to download the full speech 

Ad Negotia

These days the delegates are working on some specific topics. They will have to decide whether it is worth turning them into decrees, or public documents that will become heritage of the universal Society. Over the next few weeks, the new government of the Society will take shape, with the election of four Assistants ad Providentiam and the appointment of regional assistants. The Assistants ad Providentiam, are elected by the Congregation delegates and have the task of advising the General about his health and his style of governing. The Regional Assistants, help the General on issues related to geographical regions called Assistancies.

Another topic of discussion was the situation of the conferences in the world. Several aspects have been taken into account: the enormous diversity of shape due to the different historical origins, the relationship between them, the connection with the central government, and the relationship with the provinces. Currently there are six conferences in the world: Africa and Madagascar, Asia Pacific, South Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America.

Delegates in Gregoriana University

On Friday 28th October Gregoriana University invited GC36 Delegates for a meeting with community, staff and students. Fr. Nicolas Standaert, a Belgium Jesuit from the Chinese province, wrote “To accompany young people on their journey through discernment appears as a renewed mission of “doing good led by the good spirit, thinking with the Church” for the Society of Jesus and the Ignatian family. Not only is there the long tradition of work in education, but the presence of so many young people all over the world makes the call even more appealing. More is required: to “accompany” is not a one-way direction but requires reciprocity. Pope Francis insisted that we also “’listen to young people”. By doing so we can discern with them on our common journey”. The next Synod of Bishops 2018 was announced during the first week of the General Congregation in early October. The title is “Youth, faith and vocational discernment”.