Rev. Pedro Arrupe, S.J.
As the Jesuits' Superior General from 1965 to 1983, He emphasized social justice and a commitment to the poor and peace. His challenge to the Jesuits was to encourage them to meet the people where the people are. Learn MoreAbout Usthe 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus
Rev Pedro Arrupe, S.J.
Pedro Arrupe, our patron and mentor, was the charismatic and prophetic Superior General of the Society of Jesus from 1936 to 1981. Born in 1907 in the Basque country of northeastern Spain, as was Ignatius Loyola, Pedro left medical studies to enter the Jesuit Novitiate in 1927. After ordination he was granted his desire to be a missionary in Japan, recognized as the most difficult assignment because of the huge diversity of culture, language, and social differences. In 1942 Father Arrupe was appointed Novice Master at the Jesuit Novitiate in Hiroshima. In 1945 the atomic bomb was dropped not far from the novitiate. Drawing upon his medical skills, he brought many of the wounded to the novitiate and turned the chapel into a hospital with his novices acting as orderlies. In John Hersey’s novel, Hiroshima, Mon Amour, the priest doctor is Pedro. In 1958 He was appointed the first provincial of the Japanese Province and five years later was elected Superior General of the Society.
Jesuit life and spirituality had become very staid. Many members of the Order were resisting making their annual 8-day retreat, too often experienced as the repetitious Spiritual Exercises same ol’ same ol’. By his very warm and gracious personality, along with world-wide travels to visit Jesuits on mission, Fr. Arrupe began with optimism, hope and enthusiasm for the Jesuit charism. Drawing upon is own personal encounters with the Exercises as novice master, Pedro began the rebirth of Jesuit spirituality by several very moving letters to the world-wide Society on the integration of prayer and the apostolic life. He also encouraged other Jesuit spiritual directors to return to the one-on-one directed retreat which included the rediscovery of Discernment of Spirits as a living experience of the Spirit at work in Jesuits’ life and ministry. Truly, Pedro was the spiritual director of the Society of Jesus in its renewal.
Many other religious communities, as well as lay people affiliated with Jesuit ministries, became the beneficiaries of this rebirth in their own spiritualities following the Ignatian world-embracing, Vatican II-rooted “contemplation in action.” That contemplation focused on the actions of God alive in their everyday lives and drawing them ever more into the Mission of the Reign of God today – often described as “finding God in All People and Things.” Actually, the Arrupe vision started with emphasizing how God took the initiative and went looking for and found us in all people and in all things! Ultimately, it can be said that Father Arrupe renewed at the grass roots level, Ignatian-Jesuit spirituality.
Arrupe’ s travels to visit Jesuits and their ministries throughout the world and to encourage them in their labors brought him in close contact with many. Similarly, in our Twenty-First Century world, the Arrupe Spirituality Digital Community uses modern technology to reach out to people seeking God and delivering solutions for them via modern technology.
The Arrupe Spirituality Digital Community continues to live the prophetic vision of Sister Caroline Cerveny, S.S.J., T.O.S.F., a pioneer in using social media in ministry. Father Arrupe was likewise ahead of his time in using the latest tools of digital communications. The Jesuit Generalate is located on the right just behind the Bernini columns as you exit St. Peter’s Basilica. Early in his Generalate Vatican officials were regularly seen coming over to the Jesuit curia to use a tool that Pedro had installed early on and that the Vatican had yet to adopt—the FAX machine!
Even after being removed as Superior General by Pope John Paul II in 1981, Pedro Arrupe was still re-elected Chair of the regular gatherings of superiors of religious orders with headquarters in Rome—a sign of the appreciation and esteem the other leaders of religious orders had for Pedro. Pedro’s very memorable prayer at his formal resignation as General in 1983 captures the heart of Ignatian spirituality for many of us:
“More than ever I find myself in the hands of God. This is what I have wanted all my life from my youth. But now there is a difference; the initiative is entirely with God. It is indeed a profound spiritual experience to know and feel myself so totally in God’s hands.”
– Rev Pedro Arrupe, S.J.
In February 1991 Arrupe’s funeral took place in the Jesuit Church of the Gesu, a few blocks down from St. Peter’s. Those who came to celebrate the holiness and goodness Father General Pedro Arrupe overflowed out into the piazza. Tears of joy and of blessings received during the life and ministry of Pedro flowed abundantly during the Mass. At the end when the Jesuit pallbearers lifted-up his very simple coffin, the Church broke out in ten minutes of spontaneous applause and clapping. His mortal remains rests in a side altar across the aisle from Loyola and Xavier in the church of the Gesu. In 2018 Father General Sosa with the full support of Pope Francis announced the beginning of the process of Pedro’s beatification.
Pedro and Sister Caroline, bless and nurture our ministry as we share the Ignatian vision for today and tomorrow using social media and the spirituality and vision you both gave us.