Why the first Jesuit pope is a big deal

One of the Jesuits has been elected to the highest office in the Roman Catholic Church, known as Maximus Pontifex, Christ of Vicar, Rome of Bishop. Jesuits are not obligated to seek higher office in the Roman Catholic Church by taking an oath.

Officially recognized as the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus possesses a substantial past that Pope Francis, the initial Jesuit to assume the role of pope, embodies not solely a contradiction for the papacy.

The Rev. Joseph Fessio, a Jesuit and the creator of Ignatius Press, expressed, “According to one perspective, Jesuits are not meant to hold positions of power. Conversely, they are expected to demonstrate obedience to the church.”

The Jesuits have played a key role in the history of the Church. They have founded prestigious universities and served as leading missionaries for centuries. They are committed to alleviating the deepest poverty and

After experiencing a spiritual transformation while recovering from an illness, St. Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish soldier, established the order in 1540 following his injury in combat. Loyola’s background in the military and their global undertakings have resulted in Jesuits occasionally being referred to as “God’s Marines.”

The Jesuits, despite their prominence, have had a complicated history with the institutional church and the hierarchy in Rome, with a lot of things that got just a bit more complicated. They are the largest religious order in the church, with 18,000 members, and yet they have a history that is complicated.

Often, the Jesuits work on intellectual pursuits and missions, emphasizing their work on the margins of the church, sometimes overstepping the boundaries set by Rome. It appears that some Jesuits frequently challenge authority and have a predisposition to color outside the lines, which they take pride in.

Since their establishment, Jesuits have consistently provoked individuals, as stated by David Collins, a history lecturer at Georgetown University, who remarked, “However, if there is a barricade in the street, there will undoubtedly be a Jesuit present on both ends of that barricade.”

This is just one example — the left-leaning liberation theology movement that swept across Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s openly supported many priests, but Bergoglio opposed it. Francis, a native of Argentina where he headed the Jesuit order from 1973 to 1979, is an example of this.

After the election of Pope Benedict XVI, one of his first acts was to remove the editor of America magazine, Reese Thomas, who frequently challenged the hierarchy of the United States, particularly in New York.

Reese said that Rome is a completely new ground where he works as an analyst for the Catholic National Reporter, specifically focusing on the transition of the papal.

Time keeps moving forward as works come to an end; this is probably a surprising revelation for Francis Pope, a surprise for the media, and a surprise for the Jesuits. In fact, it was a total surprise for everyone. We are all trying to figure out the significance of this, as we have never had a Jesuit pope before.

Jesuits, who were accused of exerting excessive control, were also a matter of worry that prompted Pope Clement XIV to dissolve the order in the 1700s (The society was later reinstated by Pope Pius VII in 1814). The informal title of “The Black Pope” is commonly used to refer to the Superior General of the Jesuits due to the significant authority associated with this role in previous times.

In the early 1980s, when the General Superior of the Jesuits was sidelined by a stroke, Pope John Paul II stepped in to allow the Jesuits to elect their own leader instead of appointing one.

“The cloud with a Jesuit pope has been greatly elevated, if not entirely eliminated,” expressed the Rev. James Martin, an editor at America and the writer of “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything.” “During that period, it still disheartened numerous Jesuits, but it was within his authority as the pope.”

Patrick Hornbeck, a professor of theology at Fordham University in New York, which is run by the Jesuits, mentioned that Jesuits are familiar with these tensions.

He stated, “In the midst, a certain amount of natural friction is occurring, while you are engaged in work on the periphery and the Jesuits are at the forefront of the Catholic Church.”

If a Jesuit is appointed as a bishop, he must first seek permission from his Jesuit superiors before accepting the job, as is usually the case.

Reese said, “It’s pretty hard to say no to that.” When most people think of the Cardinals College, they think of this as your new mission in life, asking and listening to God’s voice.

Collins expressed his optimism that the upcoming pontiff will incorporate elements of his Jesuit education and heritage throughout his time as Pope.

Collins said, “Let’s not get it twisted, another part of what shapes his papacy is a pragmatic attitude that I hope.” He has a connection and simplicity of vision with the marginalized and poor. We get a little glimpse of that in (Bergoglio’s time) as Bishop. Jesuits work hard to cultivate pragmatism and spiritual depth.

Alessandro Speciale made a contribution to this report from Vatican City.