Vatican City, Feb 19, 2008 / 10:41 am
The participants from the General Congregation of the Society of Jesus will meet with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican this Thursday, Jesuits sources in Rome announced today.
They also announced that the General Congregation has elected the four Assistant Generals "ad providentiam" (in case something happens to the Superior General.)
They are Fr. Lisbert D'Souza (Mumbai, India), Fr. James Grummer (Wisconsin, United States), Fr. Marcos Recolons (Bolivia) and Fr. Federico Lombardi (Italy), the noted Director of the Vatican Press Office as well as Vatican Radio.
D'Souza, Grummer and Recolons have already been elected as regional assistants for Asia, the United States and South America, respectively.
According to the Jesuits' constitution, the responsibility of the four Assistant generals is to assist the Superior General in things related to the exterior aspects of his life –including expenses- so that he "may not exaggerate in fatigue or in excessive rigor," and "if necessary," help him spiritually.
The new Superior General, Fr. Alfonso Nicolás, has also announced the appointment of Fr. Ignacio Echarte (Loyola, Spain) to replace Fr. Francis Case as the new Secretary General of the Society of Jesus.