The superior general of the Society of Jesus is the leader of the
Society of Jesus
, image = Ihs-logo.svg
, image_size = 175px
, caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits
, abbreviation = SJ
, nickname = Jesuits
, formation =
, founders ...
, the
Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
religious order also known as the Jesuits. He is generally addressed as Father General. The position sometimes carries the nickname of the Black Pope, because of his responsibility for the largest male religious order, in contrast with the white garb of the
pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
. The thirty-first and current superior general is Fr
Arturo Sosa, elected by the 36th
General Congregation on 14 October 2016.
Titles
The formal title in
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...
is ''Praepositus Generalis'', which may fairly be rendered as "superior general" or even, "president general". The term is like that of military usage (and Ignatius of Loyola had a military background) which is derived from "general", as opposed to "particular". This usage is consistent with other Catholic religious orders, like the Dominicans' "
master general", Franciscans' "
minister general", Carthusians' "prior general", and with civil posts such as
Postmaster General and
Attorney General. The Jesuits are organized into provinces, each with a
provincial superior, (usually referred to as the "Father Provincial" or just "Provincial"), with the head of the order being the "general superior", for the whole organization. As a major superior, the Superior General is styled "Very Reverend".
Black Pope
"Black Pope" is an unofficial designation given to the position of Superior General of the Order of the Jesuits. The name follows from his leadership of the largest Catholic, male religious order and from the colour of the plain black cassock worn by members of the Society, including the Superior General.
This may have originated from a past concern (most prominent around the 16th and 17th centuries) among
Protestant
Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...
European countries concerning the relative power of the Jesuits within the
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
, and partly because the Superior General, like the Pope, is elected for life.
Powers
The Superior General is invested with governing power over all the members of the Society, but customarily leads through Provincial superiors under him. Such power follows from the
religious vows that bind members to community life, as in other religious orders.
Succession
Superiors General are elected by the General Congregation of the Society, summoned upon the resignation or death of an incumbent. Superiors General are elected for life and up to recently, as with the Popes, have served life terms. The exceptions being Father
Pedro Arrupe (resigned for reasons of failing health) and both his successors, Father
Peter Hans Kolvenbach and Father
Adolfo Nicolás. On 2 October 2016, General Congregation 36 convened in Rome, convoked by Superior General Nicolás, and it elected Father
Arturo Sosa as the thirty-first Superior General.
List of Superiors General
Until the 21st century, it was customary for Superiors General to rule for life. Where they left office before death, the date of death is listed below the date they left office. (Pedro Arrupe resigned in 1983 after a paralyzing stroke.)
Leadership during suppression
In 1773, the Jesuits were
suppressed by
Pope Clement XIV, through the
Papal brief
A papal brief or breve is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a papal bull.
History
The introduction of briefs, which occurred at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Eugene IV (3 Ma ...
''
Dominus ac Redemptor'' on 21 July 1773, executed 16 August. The leaders of the order, in the nations where the Papal suppression order was not enforced, were known as temporary Vicars General.
The temporary Vicars General were:
*
Stanislaus Czerniewicz (17 October 1782 – 21 October 1785)
*
Gabriel Lenkiewicz (8 October 1785 – 21 October 1798)
*
Franciszek Kareu (12 February 1799 – 7 March 1801)
On 7 March 1801,
Pope Pius VII issued the brief ''Catholicae fidei'', giving approval to the existence of the Society in Russia and allowing the Society there to elect a Superior General for Russia. This was the first step to the Society's eventual restoration.
The Superiors General in Russia were:
*
Franciszek Kareu (7 March 1801 – 11 August 1802)
*
Gabriel Gruber (22 October 1802 – 6 April 1805)
*
Tadeusz Brzozowski (14 September 1805 – 7 August 1814)
The order was restored on 7 August 1814, by
Pope Pius VII, through the
papal bull ''
Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum
''Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum'' (''The care of all Churches'') was a papal bull issued in 1814 by Pope Pius VII, reestablishing the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) after its suppression by the 1773 bull issued by Clement XIV, ''Dominus ac Redemptor ...
''.
See also
*
Admonitor (Jesuits)
Notes
References
External links
The Goa Jesuit Province of the Society of JesusNew York Jesuit Province History Page on the Suppression{{Jesuits
Society of Jesus, Superior General of the