January 26, 2008

In the morning of Saturday, January 26, 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.  Photographs of the visit were published by Italian and other European newspapers the following morning.

The Saturday audience began with a photo session and then the two sat down for a warm and friendly conversation. The Holy Father was pleased to hear that that the General Congregation had formed a committee to study his letter to Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, the previous Superior General. The conversation then turned to Japan, where Fr Nicolás had served for 33 years. The Holy Father encouraged the Jesuit leader to continue with dialogue with culture and evangelization and to ensure a thorough formation of young Jesuits. It was an opportunity for the new General of the Jesuits to reaffirm his personal respect for the Vicar of Christ as well as the esteem of the whole Society of Jesus; it was an occasion also to convey the desire of the Society to serve the Church all over the world.

Then Father Nicolás told Pope Benedict that the Jesuits have a custom that the newly elected Superior General should renew his vows before the Pope. Father Kolvenbach had done that in writing, so Father Nicolás had written out his vows, which he had in an envelope. The pope opened the envelope right away and read the vows; then he said, “This is a very good custom.”

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