Today Pope Benedict XVI received the delegates of the 35th General Congregation in the Sala Clementina in the Vatican, for a meeting that lasted one-half hour. The pope began his comments by thanking Father Kolvenbach for his service, and as the official GC35 site describes, “The Pope also urged the Jesuits to pursue their mission with and for the poor and remarked on the specifically Jesuit ministry of giving the Spiritual Exercises.” Vatican Radio carried a story on today’s address here “Vatican Radio on Jesuits” The Society of Jesus, said Benedict, must “witness and help create the understanding that there is instead true harmony between faith and reason.” The full text of the Pope’s remarks and the welcome from Father General Nicolas is on the official GC 35 website here, “Papal address to Jesuits”in Italian now, in English later. James Martin, SJ

The Rev. James Martin, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, author, editor at large at America and founder of Outreach.