EUROPE/ITALY - During its 35th General Congregation starting 7 January the Society of Jesus will elect a new Superior General and discuss future apostolic challenges

Rome (Agenzia Fides) - The General Curia of the Society of Jesus has announced that it will start its General Congregation on Monday 7 January. This will be the 35th General Congregation of the order founded in 1540. More than 220 Jesuits from all over the world will gather in the general house in Borgo Santo Spirito, Rome, to elect a new Superior General and discuss (discern, in the language of St Ignatius of Loyola) apostolic challenges in the coming years. Fr Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, outgoing Superior General, the 28th successor of St Ignatius, has been at the helm of the Society for more than 24 years and he is now nearly 80 years old. Having consulted his counsellors and obtained the Pope's permission, Fr Kolvenbach will present his resignation to the General Congregation.
Once the new Superior General has been elected the Congregation will focus on discussion of themes suggested by the Preparatory Commission. In January the new Jesuit Curia web site will give regular reports on the work of the Congregation. According to the General Curia of the Society of Jesus there are 19,216 Jesuits in the world: 13,491 priests 3,049 scholastics, 1,810 brothers and 866 novices. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2007; righe 15, parole 210)