Pope Francis’s 45^th Apostolic Journey to the Asia Pacific, from September 2 to 13, 2024, included visits to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. As is his custom during these trips, the Holy Father took out some time from his packed schedule to meet with the Jesuits who are working in the places he visits.

Pope Francis’s interaction with Jesuits usually leaves room for questions and answers, and his responses often cover several themes. Nonetheless, the Pope never fails to inspire, encourage, and remind the Society of its mission, while taking into account the realities of the context of the country he is visiting.

In Indonesia for example, Pope Francis addressed some 200 Jesuits at the Nunciature in Jakarta. Central to his message was his call for Jesuits to make a “noise” in the world, reminiscent of the early Christians in the Acts of the Apostles. He said that Jesuits must be in the most difficult places, where it is least easy to act, embodying our commitment to “going above and beyond” for the greater glory of God. They are to make a “good noise” guided by the Spirit and by prayer. He also stressed the importance of personal prayer and spiritual reading, reflecting on his own prayer routine. He stressed that “we have to grow our spirituality with good reading”.

Another important theme was the Pope’s emphasis on inculturation within the Church. He asserted that Jesuits must have the ability to embrace diversity, while adapting to different times, cultures and experiences. He also underscored the importance of discernment, stating that one must be able to discern in order to enculturate and “to seek and find God where he makes himself found, already present in cultures”.

In addressing a question on the plight of peoples facing persecution, such as the case of the Rohingya in Myanmar and Bangladesh, Pope Francis pointed at the need for promoting the ideal of justice and peace, based on the respect for the dignity and rights of everyone.

While meeting with the Jesuits in Dili, Timor-Leste, the Holy Father addressed key issues related to the Church’s mission, the role of the Society, and evangelization. Emphasizing his visit’s theme: “That your faith becomes your culture”, he noted the significance of evangelizing the culture, while also enculturating the Gospel.

He went on to challenge the Jesuits in Timor-Leste not to turn away from the people of God, who are the most precious asset. He cautioned against clericalism, describing it as “the highest form of worldliness within the clergy” and a “culture that destroys the Church”. To counter this, Jesuits are to maintain closeness to the people and to be shepherds. He also advised against turning the confessional into a psychiatric consulting room or a court, insisting that Jesuit priests should always extend mercy and prioritize forgiveness in their ministry.

Speaking on the Jesuits’ relationship with the universal Church, Pope Francis provided a historical perspective, referencing the leadership of Father Pedro Arrupe (28^th Superior General of the Society of Jesus, 1965-1983) and Father Paolo Dezza (Pope St John Paul II’s Delegate, 1981-1983), who guided the Society during difficult times. He urged the Jesuits to read the speech that Pope St Paul VI gave the General Congregation 32, which outlines the Church’s expectations for the Society.

In exploring the commitment of the Jesuits in Timor-Leste to social justice, the Holy Father noted that social justice must take “the language of the mind, the language of the heart, and the language of the hands” into account. He highlighted the Society’s historical engagement in social justice – from working with indigenous communities and slaves who escaped from “reductions” called quilombos.He reminded all that our ultimate judgement will depend on how we respond to the hungry, the thirsty and the marginalized.

As for the role of the laity in the mission of the Society of Jesus, Pope Francis noted the growing collaboration between the Jesuits and lay people and underlined the importance of creating space for lay collaboration in our apostolates.

On 11 September, Pope Francis met with the Jesuits in Singapore. In the insightful exchange that ensued, the Holy Father reflected on the importance of education, the challenges of young people in discerning vocations and the role of the Society in the Church today. He pointed at the critical role of Jesuit engagement in educational institutions and social centres in Asia, as well as Fr Arrupe’s desire that Jesuits work with refugees and the centrality of prayer.

Responding to a question about the difficulties young people face in committing to religious vocations today, Pope Francis observed that their resistance is not unique, everyone encounters resistance to their vocation. He encouraged Jesuits to present to young people “social, educational challenges that they feel, and accompany them in the faith with parrhesia and prudence”.

Pope Francis went on to speak about the Apostolate of Prayer, noting that it is “very much related to the Sacred Heart”. He affirmed that it is also a “properly Jesuit mission” and revealed plans to write a letter on the devotion to the Sacred Heart in October.

Regarding promoting our Jesuit identity, the Pope insisted that Jesuits should “never lower the ideal” as young people have a thirst for authenticity and should be accompanied in their ideals. He also encouraged young people to take care of the elderly and stressed the importance of the direct relationship between young people and elders.

In response to another question about some misconceptions about religious vocations within diocesan structures, particularly the challenges faced by Jesuits who are asked to become bishops, Pope Francis drew from his own experience of twice refusing episcopal appointments. He reminded the Jesuits that St. Ignatius had written the rules for “thinking with the Church” but stressed the importance of obedience to the Pope when he sends a Jesuit on a mission.

The Holy Father went on to speak about the ongoing Synod on synodality, noting that it has to be achieved not only at the level of the universal Church but also in local Churches, parishes and in educational institutions. He emphasized the role of discernment for synodality to be achieved.

For the Society, the Pope shared his desire that it be united and courageous, preferring “to err on the side of courage than on the side of security”. He encouraged Jesuits to be “brave in difficult situations of the apostolate” but also “humble with full openness of conscience”.

This article was written with information from La Civiltà Cattolica.

[All photos by Antonio Spadaro, SJ]