Pedro Arrupe 4 of 5

Summary

Pedro Arrupe, the Jesuit leader, faced significant challenges in promoting faith and justice, particularly in Latin America where poverty was rampant. His message resonated deeply, but it also led to opposition and even persecution, as seen in the tragic deaths of Jesuits in El Salvador. Despite this, Arrupe's commitment to social justice and reform inspired Jesuits worldwide, from Asia to the United States. His tenure was marked by internal turmoil and external pressures, including from the Vatican, which he navigated with a balanced approach. After a stroke in 1981, his leadership was succeeded by Father Vincent O'Keefe, maintaining continuity. Pope John Paul II's initial skepticism about the Jesuits' loyalty turned into praise, acknowledging their unity and obedience.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Latin America was highly receptive to the message of faith and justice due to widespread poverty.
• 🙏 The speaker emphasized the need for prayer and radical change, despite facing opposition from civilian and ecclesiastical leaders.
• ⚠️ Some people involved in the movement, especially in El Salvador, faced persecution and death, like the six priests who were slain.
• 🧠 The attackers targeted the intellectual life in El Salvador, symbolized by their attack on the Jesuits at the university.
• 🌐 Jesuits across the world, including in Asia and the U.S., faced struggles with acculturation and public policies.
• 📚 The policies of Pedro Arrupe, elected in 1965, faced resistance, particularly from conservative factions within the Vatican.
• 🤝 Arrupe remained loyal to the papacy but was deeply affected by internal Jesuit opposition and Vatican pressures.
• ⏳ Arrupe sought to resign after years of tumultuous leadership, but Pope John Paul II initially rejected the idea.
• 🗣️ A stroke incapacitated Arrupe, and leadership of the Jesuits temporarily fell to his vicar general, Father Vincent O'Keefe.
• ✝️ The Vatican's direct intervention in Jesuit governance with the appointment of Father Paolo Dezza caused significant tension within the Society of Jesus.

Q & A

What was the reaction of Latin Americans to Pedro Arrupe's message?

Latin Americans were very receptive to Pedro Arrupe's message because they were living in a situation of grinding poverty and felt the need for faith and justice.

What did Pedro Arrupe warn about the potential consequences of promoting faith and justice?

Pedro Arrupe warned that promoting faith and justice would lead to a radical change, opposition from both civilian and ecclesiastical levels, and that some might face persecution or even death.

Who was the head of the Jesuits in El Salvador and what happened to him?

The head of the Jesuits in El Salvador was a man named Ignacio Ellacuría. He and five other priests were slain, with the intention of demonstrating an attack on the intellectual life and capacity of the country.

What challenges did Jesuits face in different regions as described in the script?

Jesuits in Asia faced challenges with acculturation, in the United States, Jesuit Dan Berrigan confronted public policies, and in the context of culture wars, John McNeill's book 'The Church and the Homosexual' was a source of conflict.

How did Pedro Arrupe handle the inner turmoil within the Society of Jesus?

Pedro Arrupe attempted to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit amidst the changes and conflicts, and was constantly called upon to mediate, including pressures from the Vatican to clamp down on dissent.

What was the relationship between Pedro Arrupe and the Vatican during his tenure?

Pedro Arrupe was unwaveringly loyal to the papacy, but his relationship with the Vatican became increasingly complicated, with some of his critics finding favor within the Holy See.

Why did Pedro Arrupe decide to resign as the Superior General of the Jesuits?

After almost fifteen tumultuous years in office, Pedro Arrupe believed it was time for new Jesuit leadership and resolved to resign.

How did Pope John Paul II initially respond to Pedro Arrupe's intention to resign?

Pope John Paul II did not initially want to receive Pedro Arrupe for an audience to discuss his resignation, and when he did, the meeting was brief and inconclusive.

What event led to a change in Pope John Paul II's attitude towards the Jesuits?

After the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in May 1981, his attitude towards the Jesuits changed, and he began to praise and appreciate them for their unity and obedience.

What happened to Pedro Arrupe after he suffered a stroke?

After suffering a severe stroke, Pedro Arrupe lost his ability to speak fluently in multiple languages and could only speak a form of Spanish that was difficult to understand. His governance of the Society of Jesus fell to his Vicar General, Father Vincent O'Keefe.

How did the appointment of Father Paolo Dezza as the Pope's personal representative affect the Jesuits?

The direct intervention by Pope John Paul II in appointing Father Paolo Dezza as the leader of the Society of Jesus caused great consternation among the Jesuits, as they were reminded of the historical suppression of their society by Pope Clement XIV in 1773.

Outlines

00:00

🌎 Global Impact and Challenges of Pedro Arrupe

This paragraph discusses the widespread influence and the challenges faced by Pedro Arrupe, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus, during his tenure. Latin America was particularly receptive to his message due to the prevalent poverty and social issues. Arrupe emphasized the importance of faith and justice, advocating for radical changes that would inevitably face opposition from both civilian and ecclesiastical authorities. His leadership drew international attention as Jesuits worldwide faced various challenges, such as acculturation in Asia, public policy confrontations in the United States, and cultural wars sparked by publications like John McNeil's book on the Church and homosexuality. Arrupe's efforts to mediate these conflicts and navigate the pressures from the Vatican, which sometimes viewed these changes as dissent, highlight his commitment to the Jesuit mission despite the internal turmoil and external opposition, including the risk of persecution and even death for some Jesuits.

05:01

📜 The Struggle for Continuity and the Pope's Intervention

The second paragraph delves into the internal dynamics of the Society of Jesus following the stroke of Pedro Arrupe, which left him incapacitated and unable to lead. His vision was carried forward by his vicar general, Father Vincent O'Keefe, ensuring the continuity of the Jesuit mission. However, Pope John Paul II's direct intervention in appointing his own representative, Father Paolo Dezza, to lead the Society caused significant concern among Jesuits, recalling the historical suppression of their order by Pope Clement XIV in 1773. The Pope's initial expectations of rebellion and chaos within the Society were unfounded, as demonstrated by the Jesuits' unwavering obedience and loyalty. This realization led to a pivotal moment where Pope John Paul II, who had been prepared to condemn the Society, instead praised their unity and commitment, marking a significant shift in his stance and acknowledging the misjudgment of those who had advised him otherwise.

Keywords

💡Latin America

Latin America refers to the regions of the Americas south of the United States where Romance languages are primarily spoken. In the video, it is mentioned as a place where people were receptive to a certain message due to their living conditions of grinding poverty. The region's context is important as it sets the backdrop for understanding the challenges and the receptiveness to change or new ideas.

💡Faith and Justice

Faith and Justice are central themes in the video, representing the moral and spiritual beliefs that drive the narrative. 'Faith' often refers to trust or confidence in a higher power, while 'Justice' implies the principle of fairness and rightness. The video suggests that these concepts are not merely theoretical but require active engagement and potentially radical changes, as indicated by the speaker's call to prayer and action.

💡Pedro Arrupe

Pedro Arrupe was the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). The video discusses his leadership and the challenges he faced in promoting faith and justice. His role is pivotal as he attempts to steer the Jesuit order through turbulent times, facing opposition both internally and from the Vatican.

💡Vatican

The Vatican refers to the governance of the Roman Catholic Church, located in Vatican City. In the video, it represents the central authority that sometimes conflicts with the ideas and actions of Pedro Arrupe. The Vatican's relationship with Arrupe and the Jesuits is a key aspect of the narrative, highlighting the tensions between traditional authority and progressive movements within the Church.

💡Jesuits

The Jesuits, officially known as the Society of Jesus, is a religious order within the Catholic Church. The video discusses their engagement with social issues and the challenges they face in various parts of the world, such as Latin America, Asia, and the United States. The Jesuits' role is central to the video's theme as they are depicted as agents of change and sometimes dissent within the Church.

💡Persecution

Persecution in the video refers to the suffering or harm endured by individuals due to their beliefs or actions. It is mentioned in the context of opposition faced by those promoting faith and justice, with examples such as the murder of priests in El Salvador. This keyword is significant as it underscores the risks and sacrifices involved in advocating for change.

💡Ecclesiastical

Ecclesiastical pertains to the Church or its governance. In the video, it is used to describe one of the levels of opposition faced by those seeking change within the Church. The term highlights the bureaucratic and hierarchical challenges that must be navigated in religious institutions.

💡General Congregation

A General Congregation is a significant gathering of the Jesuit order, responsible for electing leaders and setting policies. The video mentions the General Congregations of 1965 and 1975, which elected and validated Pedro Arrupe's policies. This keyword is important as it represents the democratic and organizational aspects of the Jesuit order.

💡Dissent

Dissent implies disagreement or opposition to a prevailing idea or authority. In the video, it is used in the context of the Vatican's view of certain Jesuit activities and policies. Dissent is a key concept as it reflects the tension between maintaining tradition and embracing progressive ideas within the Church.

💡Assassination

Assassination refers to the deliberate killing of a person, often for political reasons. The video mentions the assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, which had a significant impact on the relationship between the Vatican and the Jesuits. This event is crucial as it marks a turning point in the narrative, affecting the dynamics of power and dialogue within the Church.

💡Stroke

A stroke is a serious medical condition that occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is interrupted. In the video, Pedro Arrupe suffers a debilitating stroke that affects his ability to speak and govern the Jesuit order. This keyword is significant as it marks the end of Arrupe's active leadership and sets the stage for a change in the order's governance.

Highlights

Latin America was receptive to the message of faith and justice due to their poverty situation.

The message emphasized the need for prayer and radical change to address poverty.

Opposition was expected from both civilian and ecclesiastical levels.

In El Salvador, priests were killed for their opposition to the government.

Pedro Arrupe's leadership attracted international attention beyond Latin America.

Jesuits in Asia faced challenges with acculturation.

In the United States, Jesuit Dan Berrigan confronted public policies.

Robert Dryden's election as a congressman displeased conservative opponents.

John McNeil's book ignited cultural wars with its controversial content.

Arrupe faced inner turmoil trying to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit.

Vatican pressures sought to clamp down on perceived dissent within the Jesuits.

Some Jesuits had the ear of powerful Cardinals, complicating Vatican relationships.

Arrupe's loyalty to the papacy was unwavering despite Vatican criticisms.

Arrupe's attempt to resign was met with resistance from Pope John Paul II.

Pope John Paul II's election changed the relationship with the Vatican.

Arrupe's health deteriorated after a stroke, affecting his language abilities.

Father Vincent O'Keefe assumed leadership to continue Arrupe's vision.

Pope John Paul II appointed his own representative to lead the Jesuits.

The Pope's intervention caused consternation among Jesuits, recalling past suppression.

Pope John Paul II's attitude shifted from potential suppression to praise for the Jesuits.

Transcripts

you're from our point of view of where

we sat in sat in room Latin America was

very receptive to his message because

they were living in a poverty situation

that was a grinding poverty that was

real and they felt it and he said no

this thing about faith and justice he

said if we are serious about this and

it's not just something on the paper we

really have to pray because this is

going to be a radical change and if we

promulgate this we are going to lose our

friends we are going to find opposition

both on the civilian-led level and on

the ecclesiastical level people are

going to oppose us they call the

persecutors and some of us will be

killed

well in El Salvador we had especially

our judgment borders and the six priests

remember who was who was slain and the

head of them was a wonderful man named

and yes you're a accordion and a solid

basque who spoke very openly and

remember they had they thought that they

had shot him through they hadn't screwed

their brains to show that this was an

attack on the intellectual life and

capacity of this of the country this is

what they were got that that university

represented the only the only active

voice to a terrible government and a

tell them that was running the country

in leading the Jesuits to engage a

changing world Arrupe attracts

international attention it is not just

Latin America that he has to contend

with Jesuits in Asia struggle anew with

acculturation

in the United States Jesuit Dan Berrigan

is confronting public policies Robert

Dryden is an elected congressman to the

great displeasure of conservative

opponents John McNeil is fueling culture

wars with his book the church and the

homosexual all of this is a source of

inner turmoil for Arrupe as he attempts

to discern the movement of the holy

spirit in the change in conflict he is

constantly called upon to mediate

including Vatican pressures to clamp

down on what the Vatican saw as dissent

the policies of the general

congregations that elected Pedro Arrupe

in 1965 and later validated and advanced

those policies in 1975 were still not

well received by some Jesuits some of

whom had the ear of powerful Cardinals

in the Holy See relationships with the

Vatican become increasingly complicated

a rupee is unwaveringly loyal to the

papacy but he is crushed to learn that

some dishw it's critical of him are

finding favor in the corridors of the

Vatican Pope pulled the sixth attempting

a balancing act of his own in the wake

of vatican ii is someone a Roopa can

talk with but when john paul ii is

elected in 1978 the relationship with

the vatican changes by this time a weary

Arrupe believes that after almost

fifteen tumultuous years in office it is

time for new jesuit leadership he

resolves to resign and after consulting

with his general assistants determines

to notify the Pope when Father group

they wanted to resign he couldn't get

the Pope to receive him and when he

finally did get an audience it was

really jammed in between two other

audiences so it lasted all of 13 minutes

and when Roopa saw the Pope you know he

was very he's always so differential he

said you know we've

when he mentioned design the Pope

shorter and the Pope said where do I

come into this what I did it was rather

blunt and the root plate was was

surprised so he said well you're the

superior and then they went a little

further and he was looking at the

memorandum the Pope and then he said to

a Roubaix suppose I say no well what we

said well what can I do you're the

you're the superior so at that point the

aides had come and they pulled him away

that was the end of the meeting I think

you know the Pope he didn't know what

the results of his resignation would be

and he never wanted to deal with the

unknown so you didn't know who would be

elected so you couldn't tell what the

outcome was going to be and this Pope

didn't want to go into anything what he

could not already foresee the result and

whereas the pope john paul ii had agreed

to meet with father Roubaix to dialogue

with him and solve the problems around

father who pays proposal to resign the

Pope simply wouldn't receive him in

audience that went on about ten months

and when he did suppose did see him he

said to obey this has been a good

conversation father general and I want

to continue this with you it was it over

God be polite it please anything you

want to know call on me instead of

calling on these other people he was

calling him other Jesuits for example

well next month may thirteen

it was Betty assassination so the Pope

could no longer dialogue with a roommate

it would be months before the Pope

recovers from the assassination attempt

that was that was May of 1981 and in

August of 1981 a roommate was returning

to Rome from an old trip doses

especially to the Philippines it was a

long flight and when they when they

arrived in Rome at the airport they

noticed the route pay was he was very he

was flushed he was perspiring

tremendously and he was his language

wasn't making much sense so they rushed

him into the car and rushed him right

through the hospital named Salvator

Mundi in Rome where they had all of a

rubezh record space all right away was a

stroke he had been able to speak you as

fluent in seven languages that

disappeared he understood the languages

but he couldn't speak them all he could

speak was a form of Spanish that was

very difficult to understand even for

native Spanish speakers so that stroke

was a severe stroke in really

incapacitated we got out word to the

whole society by cable so they'd had

this stroke we didn't know that the

extent of it at the time but as it

turned out it just that he was no longer

able to go on

with a rope a struck down the governance

of the society Falls to his vicar

general Father Vincent O'Keefe which

assures the continuity of a rope A's

vision and the election of a successor

this is not what pope john paul ii has

in mind however he does not want to risk

a general congregation with the unknowns

that implies within a few months he

appoints his own personal representative

to assume leadership father paul odessa

this direct intervention by the pope in

the governance of the society of jesus

causes great consternation among Jesuits

they could not avoid the awareness that

an earlier Pope Clement the 14th had

totally suppressed their society in 1773

a state of affairs that would last for

more than 40 years the last few days of

February the early days of March of 1982

we had all the Jesuit provincials in

Rome then the final day of that meeting

we had an audience with the Pope just a

few months before in October we we

thought he might have been ready to

decide to go on your finish you know

that it did the souther Society was so

bad so between October and this February

did something terrific happen so now he

gives us this terrific talk which

literally shocked us it was so positive

he thanked the Jesuits he thanked us the

general assistance the beloved father

who pray the revered father who pray and

then he ran through a history of the

society which was incredible

so we should know what happened there

the Pope said to them john paul ii said

to to father desert i had been led to

believe that when my decision to appoint

deads and PTL became public they would

be open rebellion in the Society of

Jesus superiors would leave Jesuits

would be running to the press they would

be chaos

that I had been led to believe that and

it never happened

not a single person budged nobody left

so he said those people were wrong

father root they was right father root

they said the chariots will obey you can

tell him the jailers will obey or who

pray was right he knew the Jesuits john

paul ii and the men he was counting on

they did not know the Jesuits that was

really a key moment of the whole thing I

had been led to believe he had changed

completely from really ready to condemn

us ready to suppressants again to one

now of extolling us praising us and

hoping we would go on