ROME (CNS) — Jesuit Father Arturo Sosa Abascal, 67, a member of the Jesuits’ Venezuelan province, was elected the first non-European superior general of the Society of Jesus.

The 212 voting delegates to the Jesuit general congregation elected Father Sosa Oct. 14. He succeeds Father Adolfo Nicolas, 80, who had asked to resign because of his age.

Pope Francis was informed of the election of Father Sosa before the Jesuits announced it publicly.

The election came after four days of prayer, silence and quiet one-on-one conversations among the voting delegates, who were chosen to represent the more than 16,000 Jesuits around the world.

Reacting to his election, Father Sosa told Vatican Radio, “I have the feeling of needing great help; now the great challenge begins.”

Because they belong to the Society of Jesus, “Jesus must give us work to do here, too, with us,” he said. The work of the Jesuits isn’t the responsibility of one person, but of the entire order, whose members are “very good,” he said.   Continue reading →