On August 7th, 1814, Pope Pius VII restored the Society of Jesus, which was suppressed in most of Europe for 41 years.
200 years later, the first Jesuit Pope will celebrate the anniversary at the main Church of the Society in Rome.
FR. GIUSEPPE BELLUCCI
Society of Jesus
'The date of September 27th was not chosen by chance. For us Jesuits, its a very important day because on September 27th, 1540, Pope Paul III approved the Society for the first time.â?
Pope Francis will arrive at 5 in the afternoon at the 'Gesuâ? church, where he will preside over a ceremony of thanksgiving. His homily will be one of the most anticipated moments.
FR. GIUSEPPE BELLUCCI
Society of Jesus
'We do not know what he will tell us. We hope that he give us some direction, to tell us what he wants from the Jesuits for the future, for the future of the Society, the Society in the years to come.â?
After his homily, one Jesuit from each continent will leave a lit candle at the feet of Our Lady of the Way, an image of particular devotion for the Jesuits.
This is the Pope's fourth visit to the 'Gesu' Church. On July 31st, 2013, he celebrated the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
On September 9th of that same year, he visited the tomb of the Superior General, Fr. Pedro Arrupe, and lastly, on January 3rd, 2014, he celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving for the canonization of Pedro Fabro.
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