Dear brothers,

On the occasion of the Feast of Saint Ignatius, we have received many requests from the entire Society asking about the celebration that took place today in the Church of the Gesù with Pope Francis. It is my desire to share with you my first impressions of what we experienced this morning.

The truth is that everything was so simple and natural that it is hard to say anything. In a way, there has been a certain “accumulation of contrasts.” The first point of contrast comes from our high expectations since this was the first time in history that a Jesuit Pope presided at one of our Eucharistic celebrations. The simple reality of a gathering of brothers, “friends in the Lord,” evoked this feeling of contrast because of the naturalness of closeness and brotherhood.

The second point of contrast originated from the hope, nurtured from previous meetings with the Pope, for a programmatic speech about what the Society ought to do for the Church. However, we were placed before the simple and moving reality of a familiar style of homily that invited us to follow the steps of Saint Ignatius.

Together with these feelings of contrast, we also experienced some surprising moments that have deeply touched our hearts:

1. The simplicity of the encounter, from beginning to end: A brother among brothers.

2. The opportunity to experience how Francis celebrates Eucharist, without liturgical flourish. On the contrary, he has a heartfelt and meditative style, like one who is in contact with mystery, a style that we Jesuits are used to.

3. After he lit a votive candle to Saint Ignatius, the Pope expressed the desire to visit the altar of Saint Francis Xavier, whose “sunset” on the island of Sancian he had mentioned in the homily. I am sure that before the altar of the saint, he asked the Lord to preserve the apostolic dedication of the Society, so that it never fades away but continues to support the dedication and zeal of many others in the Church.

4. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the Pope’s desire, personal and full of affection, to visit the tomb of Father Arrupe. The Holy Father prayed there, placed a bouquet of flowers on the pavement, and gently touched the gravestone and image at two different moments. It was an intense moment of deep prayer and gratitude, and it was obvious that the Pope would like to have remained longer.

Saint Ignatius Feast, 2013

2013/11

A TODA LA COMPAÑÍA

Pope Francis has personally met Xavier and Arrupe: Saint Francis Xavier though his

spiritual empathy and his missionary dedication, Father Arrupe through meetings and conversations in difficult moments and through that interior communion that exists in those who are deeply immersed in Ignatian spirituality.

The homily was the style we Jesuits are accustomed to: a biblical, spiritual, Ignatian, and ecclesial reading of the texts for the day, illustrating some principal aspects of our founder.

Our experience was similar to that of many who have already met Pope Francis. We can say, in sync with the youth of Río de Janeiro “we have seen and heard our brother Francis, and we feel closer to our Lord Jesus and to his successor Peter.”

Pope Francis also spent a moment in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Way. Making the words of Saint Ignatius our own, we ask Our Lady to place us with her Son, so that we may more deeply enter the spirituality that unites us all in order to be always disposed “to love and to serve.” This is what I desire most for the Society at this moment.

Adolfo Nicolás, S.I. Superior General

Roma, 31 July 2013 (Original : Spanish)