Madrid: The next superior general of Jesuits could be from Asia, most probably India, say two members of the Society of Jesus in Spain.
“The successor of Father Adolfo Nicolás would be someone who has deep knowledge of Eastern spirituality and who is familiar with Asian realities of society and the Church,” Jesuit Father Jose Juan Romero, retired professor at University of Loyola Andalucía, Sevilla, Spain.
Speaking to Santosh Digal, special correspondent of Matters India in Madrid on September 23, Romero said the person could be someone who have lived or worked in Asia.
He, however, quickly added: “But we do not know for sure, and it all depends on the Holy Spirit.”
His confrere Father Jose Antonio Rincon, superior at Iglesia San Hipolito in Cordoba diocese, says there has been a talk in the congregation that its new leader might be from India.
“There are a good number of Jesuits who have great leadership qualities and are quite familiar with Asian realities. They are possible candidates to lead the Society of Jesus,” Father Rincon told Matters India.
The General Congregation, the apex legislative body of the Society of Jesus, is meeting in Rome from early October to elect the congregation’s new chief.
Around 220 delegates representing more than 16,000 Jesuits spread throughout the world will gather at their headquarters. South Asia, the largest unit with more than 4,000 members, has sent 46 delegates led by Fr George Pattery, provincial of South Asia.
Jesuits began working in Asia soon after the congregation was sounded 476 years ago, starting with Saint Francis Xavier’s one of the founding members.
Father Romero said that it is significant that the next head of Jesuits would be from Asia as the past Jesuit superiors general are a kind of Europe-centric.
It is good to notice that the last three Jesuit Superior Generals were from Europe but who had lived and worked in Asia—Father Pedro Arrupe from Spain (1964-1983) but worked for many years in Japan, Father Peter Hans Kolvenbach from Netherlands (1983 – 2008), worked in Lebanon and Father Adolfo Nicolas from Spain (2008) and worked in Japan.
The 36th general congregation was convoked by Fr Nicolás, who has announced his desire to resign. Pope Francis has accepted his resignation.
The post of the Jesuit superior general was for life until 2008 when Fr Kolvenbach resigned on attaining 80 years of age.
Fr Romero says the Jesuits will have a new leader within 15 to 20 days of the general congregation that could go on for months.
Father Romero, who was one of the delegates from Spain during for GC 35 that elected Father Nicolás in 2008, said that the election of Superior General is democratic and nobody campaigns strictly for a candidate. “During the GC, delegates are to talk one to one only. No one promotes a particular candidate for the highest position in the Society of Jesus.”
The whole of Spain has one Jesuit province with 1,000 members (highest as a province in the world) and out of which six Jesuits are to represent at GC 36. Father Romoro is not a delegate for GC 36.
Speaking about Jesuits from India, Father Romero said that many Indian Jesuits have strong and veritable potentialities to be key contenders eneral. They have held key positions in the Society of Jesus and have well familiar with Asian realities.
“I know some of Indian Jesuits personally well and I have heard about other Indian Jesuits who are good candidates to be Superior General. However, it all depends on the Holy Spirit,” Father Romero said.
Indian Jesuits, however, see only a remote possibility in one them becoming the next chief.
“I really don’t know if the next Superior General is going to be from Asia or even India,” Father Cedric Prakash from Gujarat Jesuit province, India, told Matters India.
The priest is now working with the Jesuit Refugee Service at Beirut, Lebanon.
“I was for 12 days at the Jesuit Curia in Rome this month (September) and everybody feels that it’s the Holy Spirit that will guide the General Congregation and help in the election of the next Superior General.”