Of Jesuit Superior Generals

UPDATES BELOW The great news is that the Jesuits have elected a new Superior General to replace Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach (who is still very much alive, thank you!). Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, who was President of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania (JCEAO) (that means he stayed in the Philippines, because the JCEAO office is in the Ateneo de Manila Campus), is the new General of the 20,000 strong Society of Jesus.

Jesuit Generals are supposed to stay on for life, so a General cannot be replaced until he dies (much like the Pope). But Fr. Peter Hans has asked to be exempted from this. He actually tendered his resignation as early as Pope John Paul II’s time, but was rejected (twice I think). When he tried again with our new Pope, he was allowed this time. By the way, the picture on top is of Fr. Kolvenbach congratulating Fr. Nicolas.

I love the fact that Jesuits are position-averse. I guess it comes from really knowing who you are and what you are capable of. While other people would jump at the fact of being Superior General or Pope or Bishop or Cardinal, Jesuits would love nothing more than stay out of Rome’s way (hahaha. that’s just a joke!). While other people would wheel and deal for a position at the Vatican, the former Jesuit General tried to resign (twice!) and was finally successful the third time. I think if you have a deep sense of who you really are, you do not need a position to ratify any of that.

Here’s to Fr. General Peter Hans Kolvenbach, who lead the Society at a time of so many changes and who personally showed me how he can be so human and funny (will write about his visit to the Philippines some years ago in another entry), and humble and obedient (when he was not allowed to resign (twice!), he took it so calmly and obediently and without much fanfare!).

And here’s to the new Jesuit General, Fr. Adolfo Nicholas, as he faces more challenges, (and hopefully) more joys in the future. I look forward to how he will lead the Society in the coming years.

UPDATES:

To read Fr. Jojo Magadia’s report on the meeting, click here.

To read Fr. Joe Quilongquilong’s update, click here.

1. Ode To Fr. Moe: To Him who Wrestled With God
2. The Day I Left the Jesuits