The obedience, affection and common mission binding the Society of Jesus to the pope are solid, unchanging and the reason why differences can be so painful, said the new superior general of the Jesuits.
Father Adolfo Nicolas, elected Jan. 19 to head the world’s largest Catholic men’s order, told reporters, “The Society of Jesus has always been, from the beginning, and always will be in communion with the Holy Father, and we are happy to be so.”
Meeting journalists Jan. 25, he said, “If there are difficulties, it is precisely because we are so close.”
Like a married couple, he said, the Jesuits and the pope are bound to one another and committed to working together for the good of the church and the world.
“Only those who love each other can hurt each other,” he said.
From time to time difficulties arise, “but this is normal,” he said.
Read the rest of the brief interview here.
Fr. Nicolas’ comments are interesting. I find the analogy of a married couple a bit odd, however. I suppose it could be justified in terms of Pauline ‘head-body’ theology. But I thought the SJ’s special relationship to the Pope was one of ‘mission’ (we go where the Pope sends us), rather than a kind of domestic partnership.
SMB,
Yes, I, too, see the ambiguity with regard to the analogy. Could be taken as head-body, but perhaps also as equals.
Not sure he was intending to make an analogy on the level of systematic theology, or one that would have to make reference to head-body language. He was just making a comparison.
Michael,
You’re probably right. I may have been reading too much into it.
Sure, Michael. I think the comparison rather exaggerates the status of the Jesuits, but it is much better than Karl Rahner’s ‘chess club’ analogy.
The relationship between the Pope and the Jesuits may initially have been one of mission, however over time it’s evolved to be more like a domestic partnership in certain ways. The biggest way is in how close the two institutions really are, yet apart. For example, the Vatican routinely deals with issues of Italian politics — which they have been ensnared in for eons, whereas the Jesuits have a more global view based on their experience. That is going to cause some friction.
Not familiar w/ Rahner’s chess club analogy. Have a reference?