http://www.jesuits-aor.net/some-considerations-before-gc36/
Some Considerations before GC36
At
GC36 there are some new developments in light of the experience of the
last Congregations. For instance, the report on the State of the
Society will be ready before the start of the General Congregation in
order to allow for a more serene and reflected formulation. Also, the
previous work done by other commissions on various topics will be
considered part of the General Congregation. Finally, for the first
time six Jesuit Brothers will participate as electors with the right to
vote in the election of the General.
Regarding topics for the Congregation,
in the letter of convocation of the General Congregation, Fr. Nicolás
asked each Jesuit to reflect and discern the three most important calls
that the Lord makes to the Society today. It seems to me that gathering
together these calls could indicate some important themes for the
General Congregation.
I think we should also keep in mind the
call of the Holy Father to go to the frontiers and peripheries of the
world, issues connected with migrants and refugees, the Jubilee of
Mercy, the Synod on the family. It is important to recall that the
well-known decree 4 of GC 32 on the service of faith and the promotion
of justice was inspired as follow-up to the Synod on Justice in 1971-72.
Another big issue that I think should be
addressed is the demographic change in the Society. As it happens in
the universal Church, the number of young Jesuits grows especially in
Asia (47%) and Africa (20%), it remains more or less the same in Latin
America (12%), and continues to diminish in Europe (12%) and the United
States (9%). That means that 79% of young Jesuits is found in the
global South (Asia, Africa and Latin America) while only 21% is found in
the whole of Europe and the United States. The Society of the future,
and by that I mean in the next ten years, will show a different face.
Considering that key positions in many institutions – such as in the
Gregorian University – have been occupied by Jesuits from Europe and
North America, we must reflect on the consequences of this demographic
change so as not to find ourselves unprepared.
This post is a fragment of an interview
to Fr. Orlando Torres published at the last issue of the Gregorian
University publication, available in Italian
at http://www.unigre.it/sito/PUG_HG_03O820150936/web/LaGregoriana/48_03_36ma_congregazione_generale_it.pdf
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