Father General Arturo Sosa reaffirmed the mission of the Society of Jesus, highlighting the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs) as areas that guide the involvement of the Jesuits in the world, as we continue in our mission of reconciliation and justice.

In a press conference organized on 10 April in the headquarters of the Associazione della Stampa Estera in Italia – an association of journalists from foreign media houses who work in Rome – Fr Sosa said that the Society of Jesus, starting from a universal vision that recognizes cultural diversity as a richness of humanity, engages in pointing the way to God to others through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment, walking with the excluded, accompanying young people and caring for our common home.

Fr Sosa positioned these UAPs as the engagement of the Society of Jesus in the face of the worrying trends that have characterized the last decades: populism, polarization, post-truths and the protectionism that closes the doors of powerful nations to migrants and the free exchange of goods.

In a quick overview of the current situation of the world, he noted that the democratization of new nations is at risk, and even the oldest democratic systems themselves are weakening. In addition, multilateralism as the basis of the international system is giving way to a domination of great powers that can result in a bipolar world that leaves little room for many nations and peoples to thrive. What’s more, these trends are becoming increasing threats to millions of people who are trying overcome poverty, particularly those who migrate and encounter obstacles and rejection wherever they go.

Turning his attention to the Church, Fr Sosa underlined that Pope Francis, for the past 12 years, in continuity with predecessors, has been working on the implementation of Vatican II. He said that the synodal process which involved the whole Church, and other churches, is a clear indication of this intention. Father General also pointed at other areas of focus of Pope Francis’s pontificate: a commitment to integral human development (Fratelli tutti), the attention to the cry of the poor and care for our common home (Laudato si’), the continued efforts for the protection of minors and vulnerable people, and the reforms in the Vatican Curia, among others.

As for the Society of Jesus, he noted that apostolic planning processes have been initiated to re-imagine the way the Jesuits can contribute to the mission of the Church, considering the resources we have – who we are and the tools at our disposal. Providing some statistics, he said that there are 13,768 Jesuits in the world: 9,987 of which are priests, 718 brothers, 2,439 scholastics in studies and 624 novices. These men are present in 72 Jesuit Provinces and Regions in 110 countries on all the continents, and are engaged in different types of ministries including education, promoting dialogue and reconciliation, advocating for social justice and working for a more sustainable and equitable world.

Fr Sosa also touched on some other hot-button topics during the open-question session with the members of the press. On the issue of safeguarding, he expressed the pain and closeness of the Society of Jesus with victims who have suffered sexual abuse at the hands of Jesuits. He noted that the entire Society of Jesus is actively engaged in initiatives to foster a culture of protection. This effort began with a thorough audit of each Province/Region, followed by strategies aimed at breaking the silence and establishing effective protocols for addressing abuse cases. The effort also includes creating dedicated channels for listening to victims, providing spaces for healing, and encouraging ongoing safeguarding education for Jesuits and their collaborators.