Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
James Martin, S.J.February 21, 2008
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
Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
17 years 4 months ago
Along with the commendation, the Pope also issued a serious request: 'I have invited and again I invite you today to reflection in order to rediscover the fullest sense of your characteristic 'fourth vow' of obedience to the Successor of Peter, which does not only involve readiness to be sent on mission to far-off lands, but also in the most genuine Ignatian sense of 'thinking with the Church and within the Church,' to 'love and serve' the Vicar of Christ on earth and with that 'effective and affective' devotion which should make you his most precious and irreplaceable collaborators in his service for the universal Church.'

The latest from america

In his message for the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, Pope Leo XIV encouraged parishes to put more effort into caring for the elderly.
Amid concern over immigration enforcement raids in the area, the bishop of San Bernardino, California, on July 8 issued a dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass for the faithful if they fear for their well-being.
Father Joshua Whitfield of Dallas, Texas spoke to OSV News after the devastating flash flooding in Texas on July 4.
Although I had set out to answer the question, “Who is Pope Leo XIV?” the question I had succeeded in answering was “Who is Robert Prevost?”
Colleen DulleJuly 10, 2025