“Black Pope” calls for humanized world, on his maiden visit to India

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 21, 2017: The head of the Society of Jesus,  has urged members of his congregation to help humanize the world. “It is the primary mission that is given to us,” Fr Sosa at Vidyajyoti, the Jesuit superior general, widely known as the Black Pope, told his Jesuits in India after arriving in the country in the early hours of February 18.

In his first engagement in the country, the 68-year-old mustachioed priest, the first Latin American to head the largest Catholic religious congregation for men, addressed the staff and students of Vidyajyoti, the Jesuit theology college in the national capital.

He told them that they will receive the wisdom and strength to humanize the world when they contemplate Jesus and the Gospels.  The 45 minute talk was followed by interaction. Underscoring that the world is interdependent, we stressed the need for humans to root ourselves in spiritual values and deepen their scientific thinking to move forward with a shared mission.

Fr Sosa urged higher education centers managed by Jesuits in India to participate and collaborate and network in the mission of creating a humanized world. Jesuits manage 54 higher education centers, including theology and philosophy colleges in India.

He reminded the Jesuits that they can help in the mission only if they deepen their faith by experiencing Jesus.

Earlier, a team of the Delhi Jesuit province welcomed the superior general at the airport. He will remain in India until February 28. He is accompanied by his three General assistants – Fathers Vernon D’Cunha, Tomasz Kot and Lisbert D’souza.

After the talk, the general had a guided tour of Vidyajyoti Academic block located near the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi on Raj Niwas Marg.

The general and his counselors proceeded to Vidyajyoti Residence for noon prayer service and fellowship meal where Archbishop Kuriakose of Faridabad joined them. The prelate had earlier worked as a Vatican diplomat in Venezuela, Fr Sosa’s native land.

In the afternoon, the general attended the ordination of 23 Jesuit deacons by Archbishop Anil J T Couto of Delhi. The theme of the liturgy was “Rowing into the deep to Reconcile and Heal.”

In his homily, the archbishop remembered the terrorist attack in Lahore of Pakistan and exhorted deacons and others to work for reconciliation and heal the world with works of mercy and compassion.

Father Sosa ended his day’s engagement with an address to the members of Delhi province and other Jesuits working in Delhi.