Serving Christ and the Pope
The Society of Jesus has enjoyed a special relationship with the Supreme Pontiff dating back to our foundation as St. Ignatius and the first companions placed themselves at the disposal of the Holy Father. The Society is the only religious congregation that has a specific vow of obedience to the Pope in regards to mission.
For more information regarding Pope Benedict XVI, visit the USCCB web site.
February 25, 2008
Pope Benedict XVI’s statement to the Society (translation from Italian)
“I very much hope, therefore, that the entire Society of Jesus, thanks to the results of your Congregation, will be able to live with a renewed drive and fervor the mission for which the Spirit brought it about and has kept it for more than four centuries and a half with an extraordinary abundance of apostolic fruit…”
February 21, 2008
Members of the General Congregation were received by the Holy Father Benedict XVI in a special audience. On behalf of the Society, Superior General Nicolás offered the following words:
Most Holy Father,
I would like my first word to be, in my name and in the name of all present, a heartfelt “thank you” to Your Holiness for kindly receiving today the members of the General Congregation meeting in Rome, after having already bestowed on us the precious gift of a Letter which by way of its rich content and its positive tone, encouraging and affectionate, has most surely been appreciated by the whole Society of Jesus.
January 26, 2008
Superior General Adolfo Nicolás, SJ
In the morning of Saturday, January 26, 2008, Father General was received by His Holiness Benedict XVI. It was a short but cordial encounter during which Father Nicolás, following the custom of previous Generals, renewed his vow of obedience to the Pope.