杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

杏MAP导航 Francis met Wednesday with young Jesuits participating in the meeting of 鈥淓uropean Jesuits in Formation,鈥� taking place this week in Rome. The meeting is focused on the theme of communication.

In his short address to the Jesuits, the Holy Father said he laughed when they spoke of 鈥渦nifying Jesuit ministry.鈥� He recalled an unnamed General of the Society who, when he was reminded that the General鈥檚 duty was to shepherd the Jesuits, responded, 鈥淵es, but it鈥檚 like shepherding a flock of frogs!鈥� But, he said, this is one of the great strengths of the Society: a 鈥渦nity with great diversity鈥� which allows each of the 鈥渇rogs鈥� the opportunity to discern his own particular calling.

杏MAP导航 Francis also recalled the words of Blessed Paul VI and former Superior General Pedro Arrupe, speaking at a time of great difficulty for the Jesuits. Both 杏MAP导航 and General called the Jesuits of their day to have courage, courage which is a grace from God.

With time left in their audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis took a question from one of the Jesuits, who asked about how to communicate with young people, who often have to deal with unemployment. The 杏MAP导航 responded that this was one of the 鈥渕ost acute and painful problems for young people, because it goes straight to the heart of the person.鈥� Being unable to find work, to put food on the table, he said, takes away a person鈥檚 dignity.

The cause of unemployment, he said, can be found in a world economy that puts finance, rather than the human person, at its centre. This, the 杏MAP导航 said, is 鈥渢he great sin against the dignity of the person: to remove the person from their central place.

杏MAP导航 Francis said he wanted to address the question in a more general way to get to the root of the problem. The crisis of unemployment, he said, is not a superficial question: it can lead to suicide, addiction, and even terrorism. He called on the Jesuits to find creative solutions for the problem. It is important he said, 鈥渢o understand the problems of young people, to make them feel that they are understood鈥�; and this, he continued, 鈥渋s communicating with him. Then it is important to help them find a solution 鈥� but this, he concluded, requires 鈥渁 prophetic word,鈥� and 鈥渁 bit of human inventiveness.鈥�

Finally, the Holy Father reminded the Jesuits that Thursday is the feast of St Peter Faber, SJ. He asked the Jesuits to pray to him, 鈥渢hat he might give us the grace to learn to communicate."