New Jesuit leader stresses dialogue, outreach to the poor

Spaniard will bridge diverse cultures in the Church

Fr. Adolfo Nicolas

By CINDY WOODEN
Catholic News Service
Rome

Spanish-born Father Adolfo Nicolas, the newly elected superior general of the Jesuits, called on the more than 19,000 members of his order to strengthen their service to the poor and those excluded from the benefits of economic globalization.

Nicolas, who had been moderator of the Jesuit Conference of East Asia and Oceania, was elected superior general of the Society of Jesus Jan. 19.

The new superior, who said his election was "a shock," in a homily at a Mass the next day emphasized the Jesuits' missionary focus.

There are "other nations, not geographical, but human, who ask our help: the poor, the marginalized and the excluded," he said.

The 217 voting delegates to the Jesuit General Congregation elected Nicolas, 71, on their second ballot. He succeeds Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, 79, who had asked to resign because of his age.

Pope Benedict was informed of the election of Nicolas before the Jesuits announced it publicly.

4 days of prayer, silence

The election came after four days of prayer, silence and quiet one-on-one conversations among the voting delegates.

Nicolas was ordained to the priesthood in Tokyo and is the former Jesuit provincial of Japan. He also served as director of the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila.

The Jesuit served as theological adviser to the Japanese bishops attending the 1998 Synod of Bishops for Asia.

Some Vatican officials had been surprised during the synod when the Japanese bishops and many other participants urged the Vatican to demonstrate greater respect for their knowledge of their local languages and cultures, particularly when it came to approving the translation of liturgical texts and aspects of local culture in Catholic prayer.

Several Jesuits in Rome confirmed that the Jesuits had wanted to name Nicolas rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1998, but his name was withdrawn in the wake of the synod discussions.

Interviewed in December about his hopes for the work of the general congregation, Nicolas said, "I have a feeling, still imprecise and difficult to define, that there is something important in our religious life that needs attention and is not getting it.

"We have certainly been diligent in addressing our problems whenever we have seen them," he said, noting the focus of past general congregations, "but the uneasiness in the society and in the Church has not disappeared."

Jesuit Father Thomas Smolich, president of the Jesuit Conference of the United States, told Catholic News Service that Nicolas "is a great man. He is inspirational, he is holy and he represents a great bridge among the various cultures in the Church."

Smolich said although Nicolas is 71, "he has the energy of a much younger man."

Adhesion to Catholic doctrine

In a Jan. 10 letter to the Jesuits, Pope Benedict asked them to reaffirm their "total adhesion to Catholic doctrine," particularly regarding interreligious dialogue and various aspects of sexual morality.

Smolich said, "I do not think there was a cause-and-effect relationship, but we have chosen one of the premiere men in the society" in the field of relations between Christianity and other religions.

"He can work intimately with the pope and the Vatican on this very issue," the Jesuit said.

Although born in Spain, Nicolas was sent to Japan before his ordination to study theology. He was ordained in Tokyo in 1967 and has since served the Jesuits in East Asia in a variety of leadership roles.

He also spent three years working in a poor immigrant parish in Tokyo, living with and ministering to Filipino and other Asian immigrants.

Nicolas speaks Spanish, Japanese, English, French and Italian.

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