Pope Francis sent a telegram of condolences to Fr. Arturo Sosa Abascal, S.J., Prepositor General of the Society of Jesus, following the Nov. 26 death of Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., former Prepositor of the Society of Jesus. Pope Francis is himself a member of the Society.
Father Kolvenbach was 87. He was a Jesuit for 68 years and a priest for 55.
“Upon receiving news of the passing of Fr. Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., former Prepositor General of the Society of Jesus,” writes the Pope, “I wish to express to you and to all the family of Jesuits my heartfelt condolences. Remembering the total fidelity of Fr. Kolvenbach to Christ and to His Gospel, along with his generous commitment to exercising his office for the good of the Church with a spirit of service, I raise prayers invoking, from divine mercy, the eternal repose of his soul. Spiritually present in the funeral rites, I impart to you, to my brethren and to all those who mourn his loss, my heartfelt apostolic blessing.»
Father Kolvenbach was the 29th Superior General of the Society of Jesus, serving as Superior General for almost 25 years.
