Jesuits facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Society of Jesus

Latin: Societas Iesu
Christogram
Abbreviation	SJ
Nickname	Jesuits
Formation	27 September 1540; 484 years ago (1540-09-27)
Founders	Saint Ignatius of Loyola Saint Francis Xavier Saint Peter Faber Nicholas Bobadilla Diego Laínez Simão Rodrigues Alfonso Salmeron
Founded at	Paris, France formalised in Rome
Type	Order of clerics regular of pontifical right (for men)
Headquarters	Generalate: Borgo S. Spirito 4, 00195 Prati, Rome, Italy
Region served	Worldwide
Members	13,995 (2024)
Motto	Latin: Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam English: For the Greater Glory of God
Superior General	Fr. Arturo Sosa, SJ
Patron saints	Saint Joseph Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title Madonna della Strada)
Ministry	Missionary, educational, literary works
Main organ	La Civiltà Cattolica
Parent organization	Catholic Church

The Society of Jesus (Latin: Societas Iesu), often called the Jesuit Order or simply the Jesuits, is a religious order for men in the Catholic Church. It was started in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola and six friends, with the approval of Pope Paul III. The Jesuits are known for their work in education, research, and helping people around the world. They also lead spiritual retreats, work in hospitals and churches, and promote understanding between different Christian groups.

The Society of Jesus is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title Madonna della Strada. It is led by a superior general. Their main office, called the general curia, is in Rome. Jesuits promise to live in "perpetual poverty, chastity, and obedience." They also make a special promise to obey the pope regarding missions. This means they are ready to go anywhere in the world if the pope asks them. Because Ignatius of Loyola had a military background, Jesuits are sometimes called "God's soldiers" or "the Company."

Jesuit missionaries traveled worldwide from the 16th to the 18th century. They worked to spread Christianity, with both successes and challenges. The Jesuits have sometimes faced difficulties within the Catholic Church and with governments. Starting in 1759, Jesuits were removed from most European countries and their colonies. In 1773, Pope Clement XIV officially ended the order. However, in 1814, the Church brought the Jesuits back.

History of the Jesuits

How the Jesuits Started

Ignatius of Loyola was a nobleman from Spain. He founded the Society of Jesus after he was injured in a battle and thought deeply about his spiritual path. He wrote the Spiritual Exercises to help others follow the teachings of Jesus Christ.

On August 15, 1534, Ignatius and six friends, all students at the University of Paris, met in Paris. They promised to live in poverty, chastity, and obedience. These friends included Francis Xavier, Alfonso Salmeron, Diego Laínez, Nicolás Bobadilla, Peter Faber, and Simão Rodrigues. They called themselves the Compañía de Jesús, meaning "Company of Jesus" or "Friends in the Lord." The name "company" hinted at Ignatius' military past and also meant "companions" of Jesus. This name was later translated into Latin as Societas Iesu, which is where "Society of Jesus" comes from.

Other religious orders were usually named after their founders, like the Franciscans (after Francis of Assisi). So, using Jesus' name for their new order caused some upset. People thought it was too bold. But the name stuck, and over time, Jesuits and their supporters proudly used it.

In 1537, the seven friends traveled to Italy to get the pope's approval for their order. Pope Paul III supported them and allowed them to become priests. These steps led to the official founding of the Society of Jesus in 1540.

On September 27, 1540, Pope Paul III officially approved the order with a document called Regimini militantis ecclesiae. This document is the founding charter of the Society of Jesus. Ignatius was chosen as the first Superior General.

Ignatius wrote the "Formula of the Institute of the Society of Jesus." This document explained the new order's purpose, spiritual life, and work. Its opening lines reflected Ignatius' military background:

Whoever wants to serve as a soldier of God under the Cross in our Society, which we want to be called by the Name of Jesus, and to serve the Lord alone and the Church, his bride, under the Roman Pontiff, the Vicar of Christ on earth, should, after a solemn promise of lifelong chastity, poverty, and obedience, remember what follows. He is part of a Society founded mainly for this reason: to work especially for the defense and spread of the faith and for the spiritual growth of people in Christian life and teaching. This is done through public preaching, lessons, and any other way of sharing God's Word. Also, through retreats, teaching children and uneducated people about Christianity, and comforting Christ's faithful by hearing confessions and giving other sacraments. Furthermore, he should be ready to bring together those who are separated, kindly help and serve those in prisons or hospitals, and indeed, do any other acts of charity, as seems best for God's glory and the common good.

The first Jesuits focused on a few main activities. First, they started schools across Europe. Jesuit teachers were trained in both classical studies and theology. Their schools combined ancient Greek and Roman learning with mathematics. Second, they sent missionaries worldwide to share the Gospel. They founded missions in places like Paraguay, Japan, and Ethiopia. One of the original seven founders arrived in India in 1541. Finally, they worked to stop Protestantism from spreading and to keep people connected to Rome and the pope.

Ignatius wrote the Jesuit Constitutions, adopted in 1553. These rules created a strong, central organization. They emphasized that Jesuits should accept any mission the pope gave them. Their main principle became the unofficial Jesuit motto: Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam ("For the greater glory of God"). This phrase means that any good work, no matter how small, can be done for God's glory.

Early Works and Education

The Jesuits were founded just before the Council of Trent (1545–1563). This council brought reforms to the Catholic Church to counter the Protestant Reformation. Ignatius and the early Jesuits believed the church needed reform. They worked against corruption and spiritual laziness within the Catholic Church. Ignatius insisted that priests should have a high level of education.

One important tool the Jesuits used was the Ignatian retreat, called the Spiritual Exercises. During a four-week period of silence, people would meditate on the purpose of life and the life of Christ. They would meet with a spiritual guide to help them. This retreat became the basis for training Jesuits and a key part of their work.

The Jesuits made big contributions to the Renaissance. They were missionaries and the first religious order to run colleges and universities as a main part of their work. By the time Ignatius died in 1556, Jesuits ran 74 colleges on three continents. Their teaching plan, the Ratio Studiorum (1599), standardized the study of Latin, Greek, classical literature, and philosophy. It also included non-European languages, sciences, and arts. Jesuit schools encouraged the study of local languages and public speaking. This made them important centers for training lawyers and public officials.

Jesuit schools helped bring many European countries back to Catholicism, especially Poland and Lithuania. Today, Jesuit colleges and universities are in over one hundred nations. Jesuits also encouraged the use of art and ceremony in Catholic worship. Many early Jesuits became known for their work in visual arts, performing arts, and music. Theater was especially popular in Jesuit schools.

Jesuit priests often served as advisors to kings during the early modern period. Their flexible structure allowed them to adapt and meet different needs. This made them a key force in the Counter-Reformation and Catholic missions.

Expanding the Order Globally

After much training, Jesuits traveled worldwide to convert people to Christianity. They had some success in Asia, especially in the Philippines. For example, early missions in Japan led to the Jesuits being granted the area of Nagasaki in 1580. This was taken away in 1587 due to fears about their growing influence. Jesuits had great success in Latin America. By 1603, there were 345 Jesuit priests in Mexico alone.

Francis Xavier, one of Ignatius' first companions, arrived in Goa (Portuguese India) in 1541. He worked to spread the Christian faith in the Indies. In 1594, Jesuits founded the first Roman-style academic institution in the East, St. Paul Jesuit College in Macau, China. This college was important for missionaries learning Eastern languages like Chinese and Japanese.

The Portuguese Jesuit António de Andrade started a mission in Western Tibet in 1624. Two other Jesuits, Johann Grueber and Albert Dorville, reached Lhasa, Tibet, in 1661. The Italian Jesuit Ippolito Desideri also established a mission in Lhasa (1716–21). He learned Tibetan language and culture very well.

Jesuit missions in the Americas became controversial in Europe. They were seen as interfering with the colonial plans of Spain and Portugal. Jesuits often stood up for Indigenous people against slavery. In South America, especially in Brazil and Paraguay, they created Indigenous Christian communities called "reductions." These were societies set up like ideal Christian communities. Jesuits like Antonio Ruiz de Montoya worked to protect natives from being enslaved. This contributed to calls for the order to be suppressed. Jesuit priests like Manuel da Nóbrega and José de Anchieta founded towns in Brazil in the 16th century, including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. They helped bring peace, convert, and educate Indigenous groups. They also created a writing system for local languages in Brazil.

Jesuit scholars in foreign missions worked hard to study local languages. They created Latin grammars and dictionaries for languages like Japanese, Vietnamese, and Tupi (a main language of Brazil).

Jesuit missionaries were active among indigenous peoples in New France (North America). Many of them created dictionaries or word lists for the languages of the First Nations and Native American groups they learned from. For example, Jacques Gravier compiled a Miami–Illinois–French dictionary. Their experiences were recorded in The Jesuit Relations, published annually from 1632 to 1673.

Jesuits in China

The Jesuits first arrived in China through the Portuguese settlement of Macau. The Jesuit China missions in the 16th and 17th centuries brought Western science and astronomy to China. This happened when scientific progress in China had slowed down.

Jesuits like Matteo Ricci and Ferdinand Verbiest translated Western math and astronomy books into Chinese. They sparked interest in these sciences among Chinese scholars. They also made many astronomical observations and created the first modern maps in China. They learned about Chinese science and culture and shared this knowledge in Europe.

For over a century, Jesuits helped spread Chinese knowledge, culture, and philosophy to Europe. Their Latin writings made the name "Confucius" famous. These ideas influenced thinkers during the Age of Enlightenment. Some thinkers were interested in how Jesuits tried to combine Confucian morality with Catholicism.

However, the Jesuits' acceptance of Chinese culture and rituals led to a long-running argument called the Chinese Rites controversy. Despite evidence that Chinese ancestor worship and respect for Confucius were not religious, Pope Clement XI ruled in 1704 that these practices were forbidden. This led to the quick collapse of Christian missions in China. The last Jesuits were expelled after 1721.

Jesuits in Ireland

The first Jesuit school in Ireland was started in Limerick in 1565. It operated under difficult conditions due to the persecution of Catholics in Elizabethan times. The school taught boys with a focus on religious instruction. It was attacked and looted by government agents in 1568.

Despite challenges, the Jesuits continued their work in Ireland. They opened and closed schools in various locations. In the 17th century, the Limerick Jesuit foundation became more stable. During the Confederacy in the 1640s, the Jesuits had a "flourishing" school in Limerick. However, during the Protectorate era, many Jesuits were captured. The Limerick Crescent College even moved to a hut in a bog to avoid authorities.

After the defeat of the Jacobite forces in 1692, the Jesuit presence in Ireland decreased. However, they gradually returned. In 1859, they re-established schools in Limerick and Galway.

Jesuits in Canada

During the French colonization of New France (modern-day Canada) in the 17th century, Jesuits played a big role. Samuel de Champlain founded the French colony at Québec in 1608. He wanted to convert the native tribes, so he invited the Jesuits to help. Jesuits Jean de Brébeuf, Énemond Massé, and Charles Lalemant arrived in Quebec in 1625.

The Jesuits worked among the Huron people. Brébeuf learned their language and created the first Huron language dictionary. After epidemics of European diseases in the 1630s, some Huron mistrusted the Jesuits. In 1639, Jesuit Jerome Lalemant established Sainte-Marie near present-day Midland, Ontario. This became the Jesuit headquarters.

In the 1640s, the Jesuits had some success, baptizing over a thousand Huron. However, the Iroquois, rivals of the Hurons, attacked Huron villages in 1648. They killed missionaries and burned villages. Both de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant were tortured and killed. For this, they are considered martyrs in the Catholic Church.

By 1700, Jesuits focused on maintaining Quebec, Montreal, and Ottawa. During the Seven Years' War, Quebec was captured by the British in 1759. The British stopped more Jesuits from coming to New France. By 1773, the British declared the Society of Jesus in New France dissolved. The Jesuit mission in Quebec was re-established in 1842. Some of these colleges later became universities, like Laval University.

Jesuits in the United States

In the United States, Jesuits are known for their missions to Native Americans in the early 17th century. They are also known for their network of colleges and universities. The Society of Jesus in the U.S. is divided into four regions called provinces. These are the USA East, USA Central and Southern, USA Midwest, and USA West Provinces.

Jesuits in Ecuador

The Church of the Society of Jesus (La Compañía) in Quito, Ecuador, is a famous Jesuit church. Its main area is richly decorated with gold leaf and wood carvings. It is considered one of the most important examples of Spanish Baroque architecture in South America. Its construction took over 160 years. It combines elements of Baroque, Mudéjar (Moorish), and Churrigueresque styles.

Jesuits in Mexico

Jesuits in New Spain (Mexico) were known for their high standards and long training. They attracted support from wealthy families who sent their sons to newly founded Jesuit colleges (colegios). Jesuits were also very active in converting Indigenous people on the northern frontiers.

To support their colleges, the Jesuits acquired large estates. These estates were managed very well to earn money. Some were donated by rich families. The Jesuits did not pay the tithe (a church tax) on their estates, which caused conflict with church leaders. Many Jesuit estates were huge. For example, the Santa Lucía estate produced pulque, an alcoholic drink. Jesuit estates in Mexico also had a significant number of enslaved people of African descent.

The Jesuits were expelled from Mexico in 1767, like elsewhere in the Spanish empire. Their estates were sold, and their colleges and missions were taken over by other orders. Mexican-born Jesuit Francisco Javier Clavijero wrote an important history of Mexico while in exile in Italy. The Jesuits were allowed to return to Mexico in 1840. Their goal was to help educate poorer classes, and much of their property was returned.

Jesuits in Paraguay

In the early 17th century, the Guaraní people of Paraguay faced many problems. European diseases reduced their population, and forced labor made many of them slaves. Franciscan missionaries started missions called reductions in the 1580s. The first Jesuits arrived in 1588 and founded their first mission in 1609. The Jesuits wanted to convert the Guaraní to Christianity, teach them European customs, and protect them from colonists and slavers.

The Guaraní were also threatened by slave-raiding groups from Brazil called Bandeirantes. These groups captured natives and sold them as slaves. At first, the missions had little defense, and thousands of Guaraní were enslaved. Starting in 1631, the Jesuits moved their missions southwest to a safer region. About 10,000 Guaraní moved with them. In 1641 and 1642, Guaraní armies, armed by the Jesuits, defeated the Bandeirantes. This ended the worst of the slave trade in their area.

After this, the Jesuit missions grew and prospered. By 1732, the Jesuits oversaw 141,000 Guaraní living in about 30 missions. Some historians say the Jesuits protected the Indigenous people from exploitation and preserved their language. Others say the Jesuits took away their freedom and forced them to change their way of life.

The Comunero Revolt (1721 to 1735) was a protest against the Jesuit missions by Spanish and mixed-race Paraguayans. They protested Jesuit control over Guaraní labor. In 1767, Charles III of Spain expelled the Jesuits from the Americas. This was part of an effort to gain more Spanish control over the colonies. When the Jesuits left, 89,000 Guaraní remained in 30 missions.

Jesuits in the Philippines

The Jesuits were among the first five Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity in the Philippines. They worked hard to convert Muslims in Mindanao and Luzon to Christianity, succeeding in cities like Zamboanga and Manila. Zamboanga was run like the Jesuit reductions in Paraguay.

Besides missionary work, Jesuits recorded the precolonial history and culture of the Philippines. Jesuit writers like Pedro Chirino and Francisco Combés wrote about the history of various kingdoms. Jesuits also founded many towns, farms, schools, libraries, and an observatory. They were important in the fields of medicine, botany, zoology, astronomy, and seismology. They trained the Philippines' second saint, Pedro Calungsod.

The temporary suppression of the Jesuits led to their parishes being taken over by local priests. The death of three of these priests, known as Gomburza, inspired José Rizal, who became the Philippines' national hero. He started the Philippine Revolution against Spain.

In 1953, after being expelled from China by the Communists, the Jesuits moved their main Asian operations to the Philippines. They continue to play a key role in the Philippines, with their many schools training the country's intellectual leaders.

Jesuits in Colonial Brazil

Tomé de Sousa, the first Governor General of Brazil, brought the first Jesuits to the colony. The King officially supported the Jesuits. He told Tomé de Sousa to help them convert the Indigenous peoples.

The first Jesuits, led by Manuel da Nóbrega and later José de Anchieta, started the first Jesuit missions in Salvador and São Paulo. Nóbrega and Anchieta helped defeat the French colonists by making peace with the Tamoio natives. Jesuits also helped found the city of Rio de Janeiro in 1565.

The Jesuits succeeded in converting Indigenous peoples because they tried to understand native cultures and languages. The first grammar of the Tupi language was written by José de Anchieta. Jesuits often gathered natives in communities called Jesuit reductions. In these communities, natives worked together and learned about Christianity.

The Jesuits often argued with other colonists who wanted to enslave the natives. The Jesuits saved many natives from slavery. However, their actions also changed the natives' traditional way of life and accidentally helped spread diseases. While they generally did not object to the enslavement of African peoples, they criticized the harsh conditions of slavery.

Suppression and Restoration

The Jesuits were removed from Portugal, France, and the Spanish Empire by 1767. This worried Pope Clement XIII, who supported the order. On July 21, 1773, his successor, Pope Clement XIV, issued a document called Dominus ac Redemptor. This document officially ended the Society of Jesus.

The suppression happened for political reasons in most countries. However, Catherine the Great of Russia did not allow it. Because many Catholics and Jesuits lived in parts of Poland that Russia had recently taken over, the Society was able to continue its work there. Later, Pope Pius VI formally allowed the Society to continue in Russia and Poland.

On August 7, 1814, Pope Pope Pius VII brought the Society back everywhere with a document called Sollicitudo omnium ecclesiarum. The period after 1814 saw huge growth for the Jesuits. Many Jesuit colleges and universities were founded in the 19th century. In the United States, 22 of the Society's 28 universities were started or taken over by Jesuits during this time.

In Switzerland, the Jesuits were banned in 1848 but the ban was lifted on May 20, 1973. In Norway, a law from 1814 banned Jesuits. This ban was only lifted in 1956. In Republican Spain in the 1930s, laws were passed banning Jesuits because they were seen as obeying a power different from the state.

Recent Times

The 20th century saw both growth and decline for the order. Jesuit numbers reached their highest in the 1950s but have steadily decreased since then. However, the number of Jesuit institutions has grown a lot. This is partly because after the Second Vatican Council, Jesuits focused on starting high schools in inner-city areas.

In Latin America, Jesuits were important in developing liberation theology. This movement was controversial in the Catholic Church.

On November 16, 1989, six Jesuit priests and two women were murdered by the military in El Salvador. They were seen as rebels by the government. These killings strengthened the Society's peace and justice movements.

In 2013, the Jesuit cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis. He is the first Jesuit to be elected pope. As a Jesuit pope, he has emphasized understanding over strict rules. He wants the clergy to focus on serving others. After he became pope, the Superior General of the Jesuits, Adolfo Nicolás, praised Pope Francis as a "brother among brothers."

In 2016, the Jesuits elected Arturo Sosa from Venezuela as their new superior general. In 2019, Sosa presented four main priorities for Jesuit ministries for the next ten years:

• To help people find God through spiritual reflection.
• To support the poor and those whose dignity has been harmed, working for justice.
• To guide young people in building a hopeful future.
• To work together to care for our planet, our "Common Home."

Pope Francis approved these priorities. He said they fit well with the Church's current goals.

Ignatian Spirituality

The way of life and prayer practiced by Jesuits is called Ignatian spirituality. It is based on the Catholic faith and the gospels. It comes from Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises. The goal of these exercises is to "conquer oneself" and live in a way that is not controlled by unhealthy desires. The Exercises help people learn to "find God in all things."

Jesuit Training

The training for Jesuits prepares men spiritually, academically, and practically for their work in the church and world. Ignatius wanted Jesuits to be ready to do whatever was most needed at any time. He also wanted them to be ready for missions (assignments) from the pope. Training for priesthood usually takes 8 to 14 years. Final vows are taken several years after that. This makes Jesuit training one of the longest among religious orders.

How the Society is Run

The Society is led by a Superior General, often called Father General. He is elected for life or until he resigns. He has full authority in running the Society. The current Superior General is Arturo Sosa from Venezuela, elected in 2016.

The Father General has assistants who advise him. There are also regional assistants for different parts of the world. The General also has a special advisor called an admonitor. This person's job is to warn the General if he might be acting unwisely. The main staff of the General is called the Curia.

The Society is divided into regions called provinces. Each province is led by a Provincial Superior, or Father Provincial. He is chosen by the Superior General and oversees all Jesuits and their work in his area. Each Jesuit community within a province is usually led by a rector.

A General Congregation is a meeting of all the assistants, provincials, and elected representatives from each province. It meets rarely, usually to elect a new superior general or discuss major policy issues.

Jesuit Numbers

Jesuits in the World — January 2022

Region	Jesuits	Percentage
Africa	1,712	12%
Latin America	1,859	13%
South Asia	3,955	27%
Asia-Pacific	1,481	10%
Europe	3,386	23%
North America	2,046	14%
Total	14,439

As of 2012^[update], the Jesuits were the largest single religious order of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church. Their numbers have decreased since the Second Vatican Council in 1965. In 2022, the Society had 14,439 members. This decline is mostly in Europe and the Americas. There have been some increases in Asia and Africa. In 2008, the average age of Jesuits was 57.3 years old.

The Society is known for its work in missionary efforts, human rights, social justice, and especially higher education. They run colleges and universities in many countries. They are very active in the Philippines and India. In the United States, Jesuits are connected to 27 colleges and universities and 61 high schools.

Jesuit Clothing

Jesuits do not have a special uniform. Their rules say their clothes should be proper and fit the local customs. They should also show the poverty they promise.

Traditionally, Jesuits wore a "soutane," a robe tied with a belt. Today, most Jesuits in the United States wear the clerical collar and black clothes, similar to other Catholic priests.

Jesuits and the Nazis

The Catholic Church faced persecution in Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler disliked the Jesuits. Their beliefs were strongly against Nazism. So, the Nazis saw them as dangerous enemies. A Jesuit college in Innsbruck was closed by the Nazis in 1938. Many Jesuit priests were sent to death camps. Jesuits made up the largest group of clergy imprisoned in the Priest Barracks of Dachau Concentration Camp. About 152 Jesuits were killed by the Nazis across Europe.

The Jesuit Superior General during the war was Wlodzimierz Ledóchowski, from Poland. He helped strengthen the Jesuits' stand against the Nazis. He allowed Vatican Radio, run by a Jesuit, to speak out against Nazi oppression.

Several Jesuits were part of the small German Resistance. Jesuit priests like Augustin Rösch, Alfred Delp, and Lothar König were key members of the Kreisau Circle. Augustin Rosch was on death row for his role in a plot to overthrow Hitler.

Among the Jesuits who suffered under the Nazis, Germany's Rupert Mayer has been recognized as blessed. Mayer was a Jesuit who spoke out against the Nazis early on. He was imprisoned in 1939 and sent to a death camp. He continued to speak against the Nazis until his death in 1945.

Rescue Efforts During the Holocaust

During the Holocaust, many priests helped rescue Jewish people. Jesuits were one of the Catholic orders that hid Jewish children in monasteries and schools. Fourteen Jesuit priests have been officially recognized by Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem). They risked their lives to save Jews during World War II.

A plaque honoring the 152 Jesuit priests who died during the Holocaust was placed in 2007. It is at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri, United States.

Jesuits and Science

From the 16th to 18th centuries, science teaching in Jesuit schools was based on the works of Aristotle. However, Jesuits made many important contributions to science. They studied fields from cosmology (the study of the universe) to seismology (the study of earthquakes). Seismology has even been called "the Jesuit science." Jesuits have been described as the "most important contributor to experimental physics in the seventeenth century."

By the 18th century, Jesuits had helped develop pendulum clocks, barometers, and reflecting telescopes. They contributed to fields like magnetism, optics, and electricity. They observed things like the colored bands on Jupiter and Saturn's rings. They also thought about how the moon affects tides and the wave-like nature of light.

The Jesuit China missions brought Western science and astronomy to China. One historian noted that in the late Ming courts, Jesuits were admired for their knowledge of astronomy, calendar-making, mathematics, and geography. Jesuits introduced a lot of scientific knowledge and tools for understanding the physical universe. This included Euclidean geometry, which helped explain planetary motion.

Famous Jesuits

Many Jesuits have been famous missionaries, educators, scientists, artists, and philosophers. One well-known early Jesuit was Francis Xavier, a missionary to Asia. He converted more people to Catholicism than anyone before him. Robert Bellarmine was another important Jesuit. José de Anchieta and Manuel da Nóbrega founded the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Jean de Brébeuf was a French missionary who died as a martyr in 17th-century Canada.

In Spanish America, José de Acosta wrote an important book about early Peru and New Spain. Peter Claver was known for his work with African slaves in South America. Francisco Javier Clavijero wrote a key history of Mexico while in exile. Eusebio Kino is famous in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico for founding missions and bringing peace. Antonio Ruiz de Montoya was an important missionary in the Jesuit reductions of Paraguay.

Baltasar Gracián was a Spanish Jesuit writer and philosopher in the 17th century. His writings were praised by famous philosophers like Schopenhauer and Nietzsche.

In Scotland, John Ogilvie is the nation's only saint from after the Reformation.

Gerard Manley Hopkins was an English poet. Anthony de Mello was a Jesuit priest and psychotherapist who introduced Westerners to Eastern spirituality.

Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina was elected Pope Francis on March 13, 2013. He is the first Jesuit to become pope.

The Feast of All Jesuit Saints and Blesseds is celebrated on November 5.

Gallery of Jesuit Churches

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  The Church of the Gesù in Rome, the main church of the Jesuits.

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  Iglesia de La Compañía, Quito, Ecuador, inside with gold leaf.

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  Church of Saint-Pierre de Montmartre, Paris, France.

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  Jesuit church, Cuzco, Peru.

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  Colegio de Belén, Havana, "The Palace of Education."

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  Christ the King Church at Ateneo de Naga University, Philippines.

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  Fordham University Church in New York, US.

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  St. John's Church at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, US.

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  Holy Name of Jesus Church at Loyola University New Orleans, US.

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  The Church of the Gesu in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US, is Marquette University's church.

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  St. Francis Xavier Church, near Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri, US.

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  St. Francis Xavier College Church at Saint Louis University, Missouri, US.

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  The Santa Clara University's Mission Church, California, US.

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  St. Ignatius Church, parish church of the University of San Francisco, California, US.

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  The Church of the Gesu, Philadelphia, US, is the school church of St. Joseph's Preparatory School.

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  The Church of the Gesu in Frascati, Italy.

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  The Église du Gesù in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

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  Jakarta Cathedral, Indonesia.

Jesuit Institutions

Educational Institutions

Jesuits are very well known for their educational work worldwide. Since the order began, Jesuits have been teachers. They run 168 colleges and universities in 40 countries. They also run 324 high schools in 55 countries. Many schools are named after Francis Xavier and other important Jesuits.

After the Second Vatican Council, Jesuit schools changed some of their teaching. They focused on new ideas in theology. Jesuit schools aim to promote values like Eloquentia Perfecta. This is a Jesuit idea about educating the whole person. It teaches students to speak and write for the good of everyone.

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  Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba, Argentina.

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  Université de Namur, Belgium.

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  University of the Sinos Valley, Brazil.

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  St. Mary's University, Halifax, Canada.

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  Pontifical Xaverian University, Bogota, Colombia.

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  Pontifical Catholic University, Ecuador.

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  University of Ingolstadt, Germany.

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  St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, India.

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  St. Xavier's College, Kolkata, India.

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  Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome, Italy.

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  Sophia University, Tokyo, Japan.

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  Elisabeth University of Music, Hiroshima, Japan.

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  St. Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon.

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  University of Pacific, Peru.

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  Ateneo de Naga University, Philippines.

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  Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea.

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  University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain.

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  Comillas Pontifical University, Spain.

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  Fordham University, New York City, United States.

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  Fairfield University, Bellarmine Hall, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States.

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  Sankt Georgen Graduate School of Philosophy and Theology, Frankfurt, Germany.

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  Georgetown University, Washington DC, United States.

Social and Development Institutions

Jesuits are also very involved in helping the poor and those who are often ignored. This includes research, training, and direct services for human development. Most Jesuit schools have an office that promotes social awareness and service. The Jesuits also run over 500 social or economic development centers in 56 countries.

See also

In Spanish: Compañía de Jesús para niños