Pope Francis to Jesuits: continue the legacy of Saint Ignatius

On the morning of this Monday, May 20, Pope Francis received the members of the Board of Trustees of Loyola University of Chicago at the Vatican, whom he encouraged to continue the legacy of Saint Ignatius.

In his welcome speech, the Holy Father stressed the importance of preserving the “roots” of a religious order like the Society of Jesus and reminded the Jesuits that it is necessary to “return to the roots to move forward.”

“The roots of your institution are in the experience of the Founder, who always put God first and was in constant search for God’s will. This translated into an assiduous desire for service. Go out to serve. May his spiritual journey, marked by discernment and commitment to justice, continue to inspire and guide your life and action,” said the Pontiff.

He then stressed that Loyola University is inspired by the tradition of the Society of Jesus, “founded on discernment and action.”

This tradition, according to Pope Francis, invites you today “to seek the truth through serious study, attentive listening and courageous action.”

“I encourage you to persevere on this path, to be witnesses of hope in a world often marked by division and conflict,” he said.

Along these lines, he also urged them to cultivate a critical sense, the capacity for discernment and sensitivity to global challenges.

At a time in history marked by rapid change and increasingly complex challenges, the Holy Father stressed that “the role of academic institutions is crucial.”

“Education, in addition to the transmission of knowledge, is a commitment and a method to train people capable of embodying the values ​​of reconciliation and justice in all aspects of life.”

He invited the members of the University Board of Trustees to train “dreaming workers” and reiterated that “to advance in life, you have to dream. “A person who has lost the ability to dream lacks creativity, lacks poetry, and life without poetry does not work.”

He also encouraged them to cultivate “intellectual curiosity,” as well as “the spirit of collaboration and sensitivity to the challenges of the times in which we live, continuing the legacy of Saint Ignatius.”

“We need men and women willing to put their capabilities at the service of others, to work for a future in which each person can develop their capabilities and live with dignity and respect, and the world can find peace,” he said.

Finally, he highlighted that in the current crisis situation in the world “a horizon of hope seems to be missing.”

“And without hope you cannot live. Let us not forget hope, which is the anchor, on the shore, and we are clinging to the rope. “Hope never disappoints!” concluded Pope Francis.