“It’s always been a European,” Cooke said, but the new leader may, for the first time, hail from a continent other than Europe.
An Asian, Indian or Latin American could emerge this time, Cooke said. “It’s probably a 50-50 chance — more of a chance than ever before,” he said.
Kolvenbach asked Pope Benedict XVI if he could retire, and the pope has agreed.
By Jay Tokasz
The president of Canisius College will be among the 225 Jesuit delegates from around the world meeting in Rome next month to elect a new leader of the international Society of Jesus, an order of Catholic priests that dates back 450 years.
The Rev. Vincent M. Cooke is scheduled to depart for Rome on Jan. 4 for the 35th General Congregation, which will include the election of a new superior general for the worldwide order. The congregation meeting begins Jan. 7.
Cooke could be gone for more than a month. John J. Hurley, executive vice president of the college, will serve as acting president during that time.
It will be Cooke’s second stint as an electing delegate in a process that mirrors a papal election.
In 1983, Cooke was part of the 33rd General Congregation, which elected the current superior general, the Rev. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach.
Like the pope, the superior general of the Jesuits is elected for life.
Kolvenbach asked Pope Benedict XVI if he could retire, and the pope has agreed.
Cooke, president of Canisius since 1993, was selected by colleague priests from the New York Province of Jesuits along with the Rev. Thomas H. Feely, who is based in New York City.
They are two of 34 delegates from the United States who will participate in the paper balloting inside the Jesuit curia, located just outside the walls of the Vatican.
Balloting continues until a majority of the voting delegates agrees on a candidate.
An American has never been elected superior general, and that trend is likely to continue, Cooke said.
“There’s an outside chance, but a very outside chance,” he said.
Most Americans don’t have the language skills necessary for the post, Cooke said, because the superior general must be fluent, at a minimum, in English, Spanish and Italian.
“It’s always been a European,” Cooke said, but the new leader may, for the first time, hail from a continent other than Europe.
An Asian, Indian or Latin American could emerge this time, Cooke said. “It’s probably a 50-50 chance — more of a chance than ever before,” he said.
The election is preceded by four days of information-gathering, known as the “murmuratio,” during which the delegates are allowed to ask any other member of the congregation about any member of the Society of Jesus who might be an apt superior general.
“People will tell you quite frankly what they think,” said Cooke, the lone American who participated in the last election.
There is a caveat, though: No campaigning allowed, either for oneself or for anyone else.
After the election, members of the General Congregation will stay in Rome to discuss topics such as the promotion of new vocations, how protecting the environment plays into the mission of the society, Jesuit community life and the Jesuit vow of obedience to the pope.
. . .
Listen: 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus
(06 Jan 08 – RV) 225 Jesuit priest have arrived here in Rome over the weekend ahead of tomorrow’s opening mass for the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus. The Congregation was called by outgoing General Superior, Fr. Peter Hans Kolvenbach in 2006, when he announced his retirement from the post of leading the worlds’ 19 thousand Jesuits after almost 25 years. Emer Mc Carthy caught up with Jesuit Communications director, Fr. Thomas Rochford and to find out more about this once in a lifetime gathering…
Aftermath News 
Is this not a first? Do you suppose Kolvenbach has a more sinister mission and is retiring on the surface only? I seem to have read in T. Saucey’s book that “Blown cover is cover” so with that principle in mind, do we really believe a 4th vow Jesuit is really retiring?
We need to review Ps 2 in the Authorized Versionl, Jesus has to be shaking his head on these poor lost souls.
It’s like being “ex” CIA in my view. No such thing. Or an ex-president like Clinton who probably wields more global power and influence than ever. Or a current example of Putin “stepping down” to be Prime Minister or whatever, and basically admitting that he will still be in control. No, he isn’t demoting himself, just moving into a different level of control.
Hi,
Yes, I find myself alone.
Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.
Happy is he that condemneth not himself
in that thing which he alloweth.
Romans 14: 22 (KJV).
The Jesuit agenda?
Yes, I know;
From Nimrod, Lucifer,
fabricate Mohamed;
the history runs from Jehovah, God:
I am Faithful first, thoughtful 2d and outreaching 3d.
These are my observable desires.
Change is everything; and
I would like to be Thoughtful first, out reaching 2d and
faithful last, to help me know what faithful
really is.
I do not believe that I should rely on what the
establishment conditions me to believe in as
thoughtful, outreaching and faithful; so
I explore weekly, daily if not minute by minute
to see, hear and experience.
I believe that I have to admit that when
I put being faithful first it is from
fear of not being faithful, as the result
of my past misjudged mistakes, and even
indulgence and abuse that memory
denies to me forgetfulness;
But I think I have come to know
that of myself as discovery: and therefore
have found myself not condemned for them,
But happy in allowing my self
to live in the moment more, as
the past I can not change, though
I can draw from it a new faith for tomorrow
that I still can not touch; and in all
it does free me to see, experience and be
as faithful as today allows me to be:
and if I can continue in that, I may
fulfill my desire to enhance and or fulfill
the desire for who I meet today.
So for the new Jesuit General,
will we expect him to be
less human than ourselves?
From the cross of Jesus,
who should be without hope?
I have hope to testify to all.
I surprise myself in having so much
to write to you.
I think outreach is what God puts first:
that is why His creation of us is
in our free choice;
and what kind of free choice
Would not have been explored,
If God did not allow all of it.
God’s will is in what He allows,
Not in what we find to condemn.
He is bigger than that, are we?
And in that question, can we be?
And, in that, I thank you
for giving to me the opportunity
to see myself better from
what I have – taken the time
and written to you.
Hopefully and Faithfully,
Steve.