Canisius Jesuit At GC 35

Father Cooke In Rome to Elect Superior General
Canisius president a delegate at the Jesuit General Congregation which will elect a new superior general of the Society of Jesus
Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., president of Canisius College, is in Rome to participate in the 35th Jesuit General Congregation which began on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany, January 5, 2008. The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by St. Ignatius Loyola and today is the largest religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. Father Cooke is one of 225 Jesuit delegates from around the world who will elect a new superior general of the Society of Jesus. Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., will resign after 25 years of service as superior general.Father Cooke is one of two delegates from the New York Province and one of only 34 delegates from the United States chosen to attend the Congregation. In addition, Father Cooke is the only member of the current American delegation who also served as a delegate at the 1983 Congregation that elected Father Kolvenbach. The election itself is preceded by four days of information gathering known as the “murmuratio,” during which time delegates are allowed to ask any other member of the Congregation about any member of the Society of Jesus who might be an apt superior general. No one may lobby or campaign for the position for themselves or for anyone else.At the end of the four days, a Jesuit is chosen to address the members of the Congregation about their duties to elect a new superior general. A secret ballot is then taken, collected and counted. Paper ballots are used for as many rounds of voting as necessary until someone receives a simple majority vote and is elected the new superior general. Father Kolvenbach was elected on the first ballot at the 33rd General Congregation. The late Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. was elected on the third ballot at the 31st General Congregation. Father Cooke notes that an American has never been elected superior general, and that trend is likely to continue because most Americans do not have the language skills necessary for the post.

“The superior general must be fluent, at a minimum, in English, Spanish and Italian,” said Father Cooke. “The superior general has always been a European but the new leader may, for the first time, hail from a continent other than Europe. There is a 50-50 chance that an Asian, Indian or Latin American could emerge this time, which is more of a chance than ever before.”

After the election, members of the General Congregation will stay in Rome to discuss topics including the promotion of new vocations, how protection of the environment plays into the mission of the Society, Jesuit community life and the Jesuit vow of obedience to the Pope. Father Cooke is expected to be in Rome for several weeks. John J. Hurley, executive vice president at Canisius, will serve as acting president during Father Cooke’s absence. To read more about the 35th Jesuit General Congregation, click here.