The Very Reverend Peter Hans Kolvenbach, S.J. serves as the current Superior General.

The Superior General of the Society of Jesus is the official title of the leader of the Society of Jesus—the Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Jesuits. The Superior General is addressed Father General, harkening back to the early military career of the founder and first Superior General of the Society, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a Basque soldier. He organized his religious order into military units, thus the collective religious order is seen as a company led by a general. The Society of Jesus — also known by its Latin name Societas Iesu or its English variant Jesuit Order — is a Christian religious order of the Roman Catholic Church in direct service to the Pope. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Catholic religious orders are organizations of laity and clergy in the Roman Catholic Church who live under a common rule. ... A career is a course of successive situations that make up some activity. ... General definition of saint In general, the term Saint refers to someone who is exceptionally virtuous and holy. ... Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola, also known as Íñigo López de Loyola (December 24, 1491? – July 31, 1556), was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church professing direct service to the Pope. ... This article is about the Basque people. ... A Norwegian soldier (a Corporal, armed with an MP-5) A soldier is a person who has enlisted with, or has been conscripted into, the armed forces of a sovereign country and has undergone training and received equipment to defend that country or its interests. ... A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ... General is a military rank, in most nations the highest rank, although some nations have the higher rank of Field Marshal. ...

As a major superior, the Superior General is styled "The Very Reverend" and is invested with ordinary power over the members of the society, similar to the power given to a bishop over the people of a diocese. Superiors General are elected by the General Congregation of the Society, summoned upon the resignation, retirement or death of an incumbent. In ecclesiastical terms an Ordinary is the incumbent of a position of authority within the hierarchical organisation of the Church. ...

Superiors General submit themselves to the direct authority of and service to the Pope, not local ordinaries. Superiors General are elected for life, and almost all have served life terms, the exception being Father Pedro Arrupe. The current Superior General of the Society is Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach. The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... Pedro Arrupe (Nov. ...

Black Pope

The Superiors General have often been called the Black Popes by conspiracy theorists who believe that the modern Popes are secretly governed under the authority of the Superiors General (the cassock of a Jesuit, even the Superior General, is black). Followers of the Black Pope theory believe that some Superiors General secretly murdered Pope Pius X, Pope Pius XI, and Pope Pius XII. Other conspiracy theorists believe that the Superiors General are servants of Satan and evil. Most mainline Roman Catholics and even Protestants dismiss such theories. Black Pope is nickname for the head of the Society of Jesus, more commonly known as the Jesuits. ... The Pope is the Catholic Bishop and patriarch of Rome, and head of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. ... Pope Saint Pius X, born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto (2 June 1835 – 20 August 1914), was Pope from 1903 to 1914, succeeding Pope Leo XIII. He was the first pope since the Counter-Reformation Pope St. ... His Holiness Pope Pius XI, born Achille Ratti (May 31, 1857 - February 10, 1939), reigned as Pope and sovereign of Vatican City from February 6, 1922 until February 10, 1939. ... The Venerable Pope Pius XII, born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (March 2, 1876 – October 9, 1958 in Rome, Italy), served as the Pope from March 2, 1939 to 1958. ... Gustave Dores depiction of Satan from John Miltons Paradise Lost Satan (שָׂטָן Standard Hebrew Satan, Latin Sátanas, Tiberian Hebrew Śāṭān; Aramaic שִׂטְנָא Śiṭnâ: both words mean Adversary; accuser) is an angel, demon, or minor god in many religions. ... Evil is a term describing that which is regarded as morally bad, intrinsically corrupt, wantonly destructive, inhumane, selfish, or wicked. ... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ...

List of Superiors General

Saint Ignatius of Loyola served as the first Superior General.

Saint Francis Borgia, depicted performing an exorcism, served as the third Superior General.

1. St. Ignatius of Loyola (April 19, 1541–July 31, 1556)
2. James Lainez (July 2, 1558–January 19, 1565)
3. St. Francis Borgia (July 2, 1565–October 1, 1572)
4. Everard Mercurian (April 23, 1573–August 1, 1580)
5. Claudius Acquaviva (February 19, 1581–January 31, 1615)
6. Mutio Vitelleschi (November 15, 1615–February 9, 1645)
7. Vincenzio Caraffa (January 7, 1646–June 8, 1649)
8. Francesco Piccolomini (December 21, 1649–June 17, 1651)
9. Alessandro Gottifredi (January 21, 1652–March 12, 1652)
10. Goschwin Nickel (March 17, 1652–July 31, 1664)
11. Giovanni Paolo Oliva (July 31, 1664–November 26, 1681)
12. Charles de Noyelle (July 5, 1682–December 12, 1686)
13. Tirso González (July 6, 1687–October 27, 1705)
14. Michelangelo Tamburini (January 31, 1706–February 28, 1730)
15. Franz Retz (March 7, 1730–November 19, 1750)
16. Ignatius Viscanti (July 4, 1751–May 4, 1755)
17. Alessandro Centurioni (November 30, 1755–October 2, 1757)
18. Lorenzo Ricci (May 21, 1758–August 16, 1773) ^{[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_General_of_the_Society_of_Jesus#endnote_Suppression)}
19. Thaddeus Brzozowski (August 7, 1814–February 5, 1820)
20. Luigi Fortis (October 18, 1820–January 27, 1829)
21. Jan Roothaan (July 9, 1829–May 8, 1853)
22. Pieter Beckx (August 2, 1853–March 4, 1887)
23. Anton Anderledy (March 4, 1887–January 18, 1892)
24. Luis Martín (October 2, 1892–April 18, 1906)
25. Franz Xavier Wernz (September 8, 1906–August 19, 1914)
26. Vladimir Ledochowski (February 11, 1915–December 13, 1942)
27. Jean-Baptiste Janssens (September 15, 1946–October 5, 1964)
28. Pedro Arrupe (May 22, 1965–September 3, 1983)
29. Peter Hans Kolvenbach (September 13, 1983–present)

From [1], in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... From [1], in the public domain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola, also known as Íñigo López de Loyola (December 24, 1491? – July 31, 1556), was the principal founder and first Superior General of the Society of Jesus, a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church professing direct service to the Pope. ... April 19 is the 109th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (110th in leap years). ... Events The first official translation of the entire Bible in Swedish February 12 - Pedro de Valdivia founds Santiago de Chile. ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining, as the final day of July. ... Events January 16 - Abdication of Emperor Charles V. His son, Philip II becomes King of Spain, while his brother Ferdinand becomes Holy Roman Emperor January 23 - The Shaanxi earthquake, the deadliest earthquake in history, occurs with its epicenter in Shaanxi province, China. ... James Lainez (1512 - 1565) was a Jesuit General and theologian. ... July 2 is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 182 days remaining. ... Events January 7 - French troops led by Francis, Duke of Guise take Calais, the last continental possession of England July 13 - Battle of Gravelines: In France, Spanish forces led by Count Lamoral of Egmont defeat the French forces of Marshal Paul des Thermes at Gravelines. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded April 27 - Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. ... Francis Borgia was born near Valencia, Spain, on October 28, 1510. ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in Leap years). ... Events January 16 - The Duke of Norfolk is tried for treason for his part in the Ridolfi plot to restore Catholicism in England. ... April 23 is the 113th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (114th in leap years). ... Events January - articles of Warsaw Confederation signed, sanctioning religious freedom in Poland. ... August 1st is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... Events March 1 - Michel de Montaigne signs the preface to his most significant work, Essays. ... February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January 16 - English Parliament outlaws Roman Catholicism April 4 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. July 26 - The Northern Netherlands proclaim their independence from Spain in the Oath of Abjuration. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events June 2 - First Récollet missionaries arrive at Quebec City, from Rouen, France. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 46 days remaining. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January 10 - Archbishop Laud executed on Tower Hill. ... January 7 is the 7th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Ongoing events English Civil War (1642-1649) Births April 15 - King Christian V of Denmark (d. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... Events January 30 - King Charles I of England, Scotland and Ireland is beheaded. ... December 21 is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... June 17 is the 168th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (169th in leap years), with 197 days remaining. ... Events January 1 - Charles II crowned King of Scotland in Scone. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events April 6 - Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in Leap years). ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (77th in Leap years). ... July 31 is the 212th day (213th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 153 days remaining, as the final day of July. ... Events March 12 - New Jersey becomes a colony of England. ... November 26 is the 330th day (331st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events March 4 - Charles II of England grants a land charter to William Penn for the area that will later become Pennsylvania. ... July 5 is the 186th day of the year (187th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 179 days remaining. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ... December 12 is the 346th day (347th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events The League of Augsburg is founded. ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... Events March 19 - The men under explorer Robert Cavelier de La Salle murder him while searching for the mouth of the Mississippi River. ... October 27 is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 65 days remaining. ... Events Construction begins on Blenheim Palace, in Oxfordshire, England. ... January 31 is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events May 23 - Battle of Ramillies November 5 - The Dublin Gazette publishes its first edition. ... February 28 is the 59th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Pope Clement XII elected September 17 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed III (1703-1730) to Mahmud I (1730-1754) Anna Ivanova (Anna I of Russia) became czarina Births May 13 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in Leap years). ... Events Pope Clement XII elected September 17 - Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed III (1703-1730) to Mahmud I (1730-1754) Anna Ivanova (Anna I of Russia) became czarina Births May 13 - Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (d. ... November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex to... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... Events Adam Smith is appointed professor of logic at the University of Glasgow March 31 - The future King George III of the United Kingdom succeeds his father as Prince of Wales. ... May 4 is the 124th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (125th in leap years). ... 1755 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining, as the final day of November. ... October 2nd is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... 1757 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... May 21 is the 141st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (142nd in leap years). ... 1758 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1773 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... February 5 is the 36th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1820 was a leap year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in Leap years). ... January 27 is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1829 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... July 9 is the 190th day of the year (191st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 175 days remaining. ... May 8 is the 128th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (129th in leap years). ... 1853 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Pieter Beckx, S.J. (February 8, 1795 - March 4, 1887) was the twenty-second Superior-General of the Society of Jesus. ... August 2 is the 214th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (215th in leap years), with 151 days remaining. ... March 4 is the 63rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (64th in leap years). ... 1887 is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1892 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... October 2nd is the 275th day (276th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 90 days remaining. ... April 18 is the 108th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (109th in leap years). ... 1906 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... September 8 is the 251st day of the year (252nd in leap years). ... August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1914 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1915 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1942 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... 1946 was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in Leap years). ... 1964 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Pedro Arrupe (Nov. ... May 22 is the 142nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (143rd in leap years). ... 1965 was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... September 3 is the 246th day of the year (247th in leap years). ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 13 is the 256th day of the year (257th in leap years). ...

Notes

^  In 1773, the Jesuits were suppressed by Pope Clement XIV through the brief Dominus ac redemptor on July 21, 1773, executed August 16. The leaders of the order in the nations where the Papal suppression order was not enforced were known as temporary Vicars General. They were: The Virtuous Pope Clement XIV, born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli (Sant Arcangelo di Romagna, 31 October , 1705 - Rome, 22 September 1774), was pope from 1769 to 1774. ... July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... August 16 is the 228th day of the year (229th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

• Stanislaus Czerniewicz (October 17, 1782–October 21, 1785)
• Gabriel Lenkiewisz (October 8, 1785–October 21, 1798)
• Franciszek Kareu (February 12, 1799–March 7, 1801)

On March 7, 1801, Pope Pius VII issued the brief Catholicae fidei, giving approval to the existence of the Society in Russia and allowing the Society there to elect a Superior General for Russia. This was the first step to the Society's eventual restoration. The generals in Russia were: October 17 is the 290th (in leap years the 291st) day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. ... 1782 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1785 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... October 8 is the 281st day of the year (282nd in leap years). ... October 21 is the 294th day of the year (295th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 71 days remaining. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1799 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in Leap years). ... 1801 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Pius VII, né Giorgio Barnaba Luigi Chiaramonti, (August 14, 1740 - August 20, 1823) was Pope from March 14, 1800 to August 20, 1823. ...

• Franciszek Kareu (March 7, 1801–August 4, 1802)
• Gabriel Gruber (October 22, 1802–April 6, 1805)
• Thaddeus Brzozowski (September 14, 1805–August 7, 1814)

The order was restored on August 7, 1814 by Pope Pius VII through the bull Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum. August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... 1802 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... October 22 is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 70 days remaining. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (97th in leap years). ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... September 14 is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years). ... August 7 is the 219th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (220th in leap years), with 146 days remaining. ... 1814 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Pius VII, né Giorgio Barnaba Luigi Chiaramonti, (August 14, 1740 - August 20, 1823) was Pope from March 14, 1800 to August 20, 1823. ... Papal bull of Pope Urban VIII, 1637, sealed with a leaden bulla. ...

References

New York Jesuit Province History Page on the Suppression (http://www.nysj.org/history/province_history_generals.asp)