Published : March 09 2009
Jesuits Conference of South Asia (JCSA), presided over by Fr Adolfo Nicolas, Vatican-based Superior General of the Society of Jesus, discussed various issues faced by the global community at a seven-day session that concluded in Pune.
The Indian visit of the head of the Jesuits, the largest and most powerful male religious order in Roman Catholic Church, was kept a closely guarded secret.
There were no public functions during his visit. This is Fr Nicolas’ first visit to India since he took over the post in January last year.
The father general told Pune-based Sakaal Times said that he did not want the media limelight on the deliberation of the conference or his current visit. Like his legendary predecessors Fr Pedro Arrupe and Fr Peter Hans Kolvenbach, Fr Nicolas too likes to maintain a low profile.
After the conclusion of the marathon conference, the Jesuit chief will fly to Goa on Saturday and will later leave for Mumbai. He will return to the Jesuit headquarters, the Curia in Rome, on March 9.
The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is the largest and the most powerful male religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. The head of the organisation gets his nickname Black Pope due to his black attire in contrast to the white robes of the Pope and also due to his influential position in the Catholic Church.
The conference held at Sanjeevan, headquarters of the Pune province Jesuits was attended by 20 Jesuit provincials and heads of four regions from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
The conference had four sessions daily and the main thrust of the conference was to establish collaboration with all at the world-level to establish a global society based on the principles of peace, love and justice, Provincial Fr Rosario said. It meant joining hands with various forces regardless of their religion, country, gender or race, he said.
The 72-year-old Spain-born Fr Nicolas' visit to India began on February 20. After arriving in the city on February 26, he visited Ahmednagar, Shevgaon, Shrirampur and Sangamner in neighbouring Ahmednagar district where the Jesuits have been working since 1878.
Fr Nicolas, who is the ex-officio chancellor of the city-based Jnanadeep Vidyapeeth, addressed students and faculty of the internationally known institute on Nagar Road.
Incidentally, India, with its 3,900 Jesuits has surpassed the USA last year to have the largest number of Jesuits. Europe ranks the third. There are many Indian Jesuits who have been working abroad including European and African countries and also in Afghanistan.
Some of the best-known Jesuit institutions in the country include St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, St Xavier’s College, Kolkata and Loyola College in Chennai. In Pune, the Jesuits-run institutions include De Nobili College, Jnanadeep Vidyapeeth, Loyola and St Vincent schools.
There are over 20,000 Jesuits spread in over 100 countries. Known for their missionary zeal, they are active in the fields of education, human rights, inter-religious dialogue and various pioneering ministries.
Fr Nicolas who has spent over 12 years in Japan is fluent in Spanish, Japanese, English, French and Italian.
The Indian visit of the head of the Jesuits, the largest and most powerful male religious order in Roman Catholic Church, was kept a closely guarded secret.
There were no public functions during his visit. This is Fr Nicolas’ first visit to India since he took over the post in January last year.
The father general told Pune-based Sakaal Times said that he did not want the media limelight on the deliberation of the conference or his current visit. Like his legendary predecessors Fr Pedro Arrupe and Fr Peter Hans Kolvenbach, Fr Nicolas too likes to maintain a low profile.
After the conclusion of the marathon conference, the Jesuit chief will fly to Goa on Saturday and will later leave for Mumbai. He will return to the Jesuit headquarters, the Curia in Rome, on March 9.
The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is the largest and the most powerful male religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. The head of the organisation gets his nickname Black Pope due to his black attire in contrast to the white robes of the Pope and also due to his influential position in the Catholic Church.
The conference held at Sanjeevan, headquarters of the Pune province Jesuits was attended by 20 Jesuit provincials and heads of four regions from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
The conference had four sessions daily and the main thrust of the conference was to establish collaboration with all at the world-level to establish a global society based on the principles of peace, love and justice, Provincial Fr Rosario said. It meant joining hands with various forces regardless of their religion, country, gender or race, he said.
The 72-year-old Spain-born Fr Nicolas' visit to India began on February 20. After arriving in the city on February 26, he visited Ahmednagar, Shevgaon, Shrirampur and Sangamner in neighbouring Ahmednagar district where the Jesuits have been working since 1878.
Fr Nicolas, who is the ex-officio chancellor of the city-based Jnanadeep Vidyapeeth, addressed students and faculty of the internationally known institute on Nagar Road.
Incidentally, India, with its 3,900 Jesuits has surpassed the USA last year to have the largest number of Jesuits. Europe ranks the third. There are many Indian Jesuits who have been working abroad including European and African countries and also in Afghanistan.
Some of the best-known Jesuit institutions in the country include St Xavier’s College, Mumbai, St Xavier’s College, Kolkata and Loyola College in Chennai. In Pune, the Jesuits-run institutions include De Nobili College, Jnanadeep Vidyapeeth, Loyola and St Vincent schools.
There are over 20,000 Jesuits spread in over 100 countries. Known for their missionary zeal, they are active in the fields of education, human rights, inter-religious dialogue and various pioneering ministries.
Fr Nicolas who has spent over 12 years in Japan is fluent in Spanish, Japanese, English, French and Italian.
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