The visit of Fr. General Arturo Sosa to Poland marked an important moment in the life of the Jesuit Province, bringing together celebration, reflection, and a renewed focus on mission and reconciliation.

His visit, which took place in mid-May 2026, included stops in both Kraków and Warsaw, and coincided with the opening of the jubilee celebrations of the Polish Jesuit Provinces, as well as academic and pastoral gatherings that highlighted the Society’s historical presence and contemporary mission in the country.

Kraków: Jubilee, memory, and mission

The Kraków programme opened with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, presided over by Cardinal Grzegorz Ryś. The liturgy marked the beginning of the celebrations linked to the centenary of the reorganisation of the Society of Jesus in Poland and gathered Jesuits, collaborators, and friends of the Jesuit mission.

Following the Mass, Fr. General took part in the official opening of a major international academic conference at the Jesuit University Ignatianum. The event, entitled “Continuities and Transformations. On the Centenary of the Reorganisation of the Society of Jesus in the Republic of Poland”, brought together scholars from Poland and abroad to reflect on the historical and contemporary dimensions of Jesuit presence in the region.

In his address, Fr. General emphasized the identity of the Society of Jesus as one rooted in mission and reconciliation. Jesuit identity, he noted, is not static but dynamic—shaped by discernment, collaboration, and a willingness to take risks in service of the Gospel and of a reconciled world.

The Kraków celebrations also highlighted the strong collaboration between Jesuits and lay partners, particularly in the fields of education, intellectual apostolate, and pastoral work—key dimensions of the Ignatian tradition in Poland today.

Warsaw: encounter and mission in the capital

The second stage of the visit took place in Warsaw, where Fr. General met with Jesuits and collaborators engaged in various apostolic works of the Society.

A central reason for his presence in Warsaw was to preside over the Eucharistic celebration marking the beginning of the centennial jubilee commemorations of the Polish Jesuit Provinces and to pray in thanksgiving for the history and mission of the Society in Poland.

A key moment of the Warsaw visit was the celebration of the Eucharist at the National Shrine of St. Andrew Bobola, a place deeply connected with Jesuit memory and witness. The liturgy was presided over by Archbishop Adrian Galbas and brought together Jesuits, friends of the Society, and members of the wider ecclesial community.

In his homily, Fr. General returned to the central themes of reconciliation, mission at the frontiers, and collaboration with others in carrying forward the Jesuit apostolic mission. The visit underlined the universal dimension of the Society of Jesus and its commitment to being present where faith, justice, and human dignity are most deeply challenged.

A shared celebration of identity and mission

Across both cities, the visit of Fr. General served as a moment of gratitude and renewal. It connected the historical depth of Jesuit presence in Poland with the challenges and opportunities of today’s mission.

The celebrations in Kraków and Warsaw highlighted not only the rich academic and spiritual heritage of the Polish Jesuits, but also the living reality of a Society engaged in education, reconciliation, and service in collaboration with many partners.

As the visit came to a close, it left behind a renewed sense of belonging to a global mission—rooted in the Ignatian tradition and oriented toward hope, justice, and reconciliation in today’s world.