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POPE-JESUITS Apr-24-2006 (390 words) With photos posted April 19. xxxi
Pope asks Jesuits to focus on teaching, research, dialogue
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Invoking the Jesuits' special vow to fulfill missions assigned by the pope, Pope Benedict XVI asked the Society of Jesus to concentrate on teaching and research in theology and philosophy, dialogue with modern culture and the Christian education of future generations.
Pope Benedict met with hundreds of Jesuits and their collaborators April 22 in St. Peter's Basilica after a Mass honoring three of the first members of the order.
The Mass commemorated the 450th anniversary of the death of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the order's founder, and the 500th anniversary of the births of two of his first companions: St. Francis Xavier and Blessed Peter Faber.
Pope Benedict called the three "men of extraordinary holiness and exceptional apostolic zeal."
"Precisely because he was a man of God, St. Ignatius was a faithful servant of the church," the pope said. "From his desire to serve the church in the most useful and efficient way, the vow of special obedience to the pope was born."
Pope Benedict asked the Jesuits to continue to be faithful to that vow so that "the urgent, current needs" of the church could be met.
Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, superior general of the more than 19,500-member order, thanked the pope for his affection and trust in the Society of Jesus.
He told the pope that it was right for the order to honor the three early Jesuits and "see them as enlightened and secure guides for our spiritual journey and our apostolic activity even though the times and circumstances in which we live and work have changed radically."
Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Vatican secretary of state, presided over the April 22 anniversary Mass.
Calling the three early Jesuits "great giants of holiness," he said they continue to be examples of how to follow Christ and bring others to him.
In his homily, Cardinal Sodano not only offered thanks for the gifts and works of the Society of Jesus, but he also called on those present to seek forgiveness for the times they have failed to live up to their calling.
"Today we want to ask forgiveness for our infidelities," he said.
Human beings are inclined to sin, Cardinal Sodano said, and so each day they must pray for strength to be faithful, obedient and holy.
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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