Like thousands of other pilgrims before them, 215 Jesuit priests and brothers will walk through the Holy Door of Mercy at Saint Peter’s Basilica tomorrow. Processing from the Jesuit Curia, the worldwide headquarters of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), a short walk from the Vatican, the group, gathered in Rome for General Congregation 36, will celebrate Mass at the altar of the Chair of Saint Peter. Father Bienvenido Nebres, SJ, aged 76 years, from the Philippines, the eldest elector to the congregation, will preside at Mass.
During their processional tomorrow, the Jesuits will wear traditional clerical vestments, including a stole that was specifically designed for General Congregation 36. Embroidered in gold thread on white cloth, the stole bears the starburst logo and IHS, (a symbol for Jesus), typically associated with the Jesuits.
Near the statue of Pope Paul III, (1534-1549), the Pope who approved the Society of Jesus in 1540, the Jesuits will pray for the work of the congregation, particularly for the upcoming vote to select the new leader who will replace Superior General Father Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, 80, who retired earlier this week. The new general will be only the 31st in the history of the Society of Jesus, which was founded in 1540 by Saint Ignatius of Loyola and his companions.
The Jesuits who were appointed and elected to serve as members of General Congregation 36 represent 66 countries.
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