SALAMANCA, SPAIN | 24 November 2025 – In a video recording address to the "Ignite the Way" conference, Fr. Arturo Sosa, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, articulated the profound desire at the heart of this gathering: to contribute, in the best way possible, to walking together as the Church, the People of God, as envisioned by the Second Vatican Council.

He reminded the assembly that synodality as a constitutive dimension of ecclesial life is only real if it is the Lord who charts the course and the Holy Spirit who shows the way. The Church, born to proclaim the Gospel, is the community of Jesus' followers who discern together the steps to take on the path illuminated by the Holy Spirit.

The Society of Jesus is initiating this project to train facilitators of discernment processes in response to an important need of the synodal Church. The Jesuit charism, spirituality and experience are the foundation from which we propose to make our contribution to strengthening the constitution of the Church as proposed by Vatican II.

A Vision Inspired by the Beatitudes, Confronting a Polarised World

This vision, Fr. Sosa stated, imagines everyone, united in faith, moving forward together, committed to the mission of reconciliation and justice in a wounded world. It is a vision inspired by the Beatitudes, which call blessed the poor, the merciful, those who work for peace.

"We live, however, in a very different world," he stated. "A world polarised between rich and poor, north and south, black and white. A world where the poor, especially if they are migrants, are marginalised. A world where those who aspire to justice are ridiculed."

He spoke of being shaken by the pain of the victims, hearing the cry of the millions forced to migrate, feeling the pain of unemployed young people, and mourning the suffering of Mother Earth. "Our mission leads us to act to change this reality. However, we often feel powerless and paralysed. That is where discernment comes in. With the guidance of the Spirit, we can find a way forward."

Fr. Sosa outlined the critical junctures that call for discernment:

1. Discernment is necessary when the Christian community finds itself at the intersection between Jesus' message and the concrete challenges of the reality in which we live.

2. Discernment is needed when the Gospel of Jesus makes so much of the world's pain incomprehensible.

3. Discernment is needed when we begin to reflect on what God wants us to do... so that we may follow Jesus more closely and love him more deeply.

4. Discernment is needed to see what consolations God wants to give us.

5. Discernment is needed to be awakened by the Spirit... and set out again, with hearts on fire.

He stressed that this search is not solitary. "This complex search, this discernment, requires community, gathered around the Word and the Lord's table." It is only together, he affirmed, that we will have the courage, faith, hope, and compassion needed to touch the wounds of our time and find a path to reconciliation and peace.

A Bold Desire and a Call for a Concrete Plan

Fr. Sosa recognized that each participant had come "moved by the desire to bring about this evangelical revolution capable of changing how our world thinks and acts. It is a bold, daring and great desire... I share it fully."

While many "exercises" and techniques will be presented, he underscored that the most important thing to be shared is "how to listen to that calm and clear voice, so often drowned out, the voice of Jesus. His Spirit and only His Spirit is what will bring lasting renewal."

He then issued a direct and practical challenge: "For it to be a good meeting in the end, it must bear fruit in the form of a good plan. Each of you must leave here with a plan." He called for a plan for each organisation, for JRS, for CLC, for the different Conferences of Major Superiors and Provinces. "A plan to share skills and train people in the discernment necessary in community and synodal processes."

His advice:

1. Enter fully into the spiritual process: Open space for the Spirit through presentations, discussions, and, most importantly, through prayer, reflection, and attentiveness to inner motions.

2. Visualize concrete transformation: Each participant must see themselves as an "agent of transformation" in their own context, outlining the concrete steps to make that change happen.

In conclusion, Fr. Sosa envisioned the gathering as "a stone thrown into a pond, sending ripples across continents and cultures." The call, he said, is to construct a narrative different from the often toxic narrative of our time.

"We want to construct a narrative of solidarity, a narrative of love, a narrative based on a new attitude and expressed in a new way of living. A narrative based on the liberating message of Jesus."

Full message in PDF [Here]