Last evening, Pope Francis received in audience Venezuelan Jesuit Father Arturo Sosa, recently elected new Superior General of the Society of Jesus.
The announcement of the newly-elected leader came Oct. 14 in the Vatican, as the Jesuits were meeting in Rome for their 36th General Congregation. Fr. Sosa succeeded the 80-year-old Fr. Adolfo Nicolas, who, in 2014, announced his resignation.
After days of prayer and discernment, 212 electors representing the nearly 17,000 Jesuits working around the world chose Fr. Sosa as their leader.
Born in Caracas on Nov. 12, 1948, Arturo Sosa would go on to obtain a doctorate in political sciences, before entering the Jesuits and, in 1977, being ordained a priest.
This week, Fr. Sosa met with press the first time in the Vatican and said he is ready to respond with joy to his new role, that he does not like being called ‘the black pope,’ and that reconciliation and dialogue are among his most important priorities.
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On ZENIT’s Web page:
Feature: Fr. Sosa Speaks to the Press: https://zenit.org/articles/feature-jesuits-new-superior-general-is-ready-to-respond-with-joy/
