ROME, 24 October 2025 —“The Society of Jesus has long been present where humanity’s needs meet God’s saving love.” With these words, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Jesuit mission during his audience with global Jesuit leaders gathered in Rome for the ten-day Meeting of Major Superiors (MMS).

“Today, I repeat: the Church needs you at the frontiers – whether they be geographical, cultural, intellectual, or spiritual,” the Holy Father said, urging Jesuits to continue serving the Church and the world amid rapid cultural, economic, and political transformations.

Leading the delegation of about one hundred Jesuits was Fr. General Arturo Sosa, SJ, accompanied by Provincials, Regional Superiors, Presidents of Conferences, General Counsellors, Secretaries, and translators. Presenting the group to the Pope, Father Sosa reaffirmed the Society’s readiness—both individually and collectively—to serve the universal mission of the Church, wherever the Holy Father desires. He also recalled that in 2019, Pope Francis had given the Society its current orientations through the Universal Apostolic Preferences (UAPs), guiding Jesuit mission for the decade.

Father General noted that this year’s meeting of Major Superiors was dedicated to reflecting on “the missionary dimension of the charism of the Society of Jesus.”

From its very beginning, the Society has maintained a special relationship with the Papacy. When St. Ignatius of Loyola and his first companions sought to serve in the missions, they presented themselves to the Pope, pledging their obedience and availability. This unique bond continues today, symbolized by the Jesuits’ fourth vow of obedience to the Pope regarding mission, in addition to the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

The Call to New Frontiers

In his address, Pope Leo XIV identified several key “frontier” areas where Jesuits are especially needed today.

He first pointed to synodality, urging deeper listening to the Holy Spirit and to one another so that Jesuit ministries “may be more agile, transparent, and responsive to the Gospel.”

The Pope also emphasized the frontier of reconciliation and justice, calling Jesuits to resist what he termed the “globalization of powerlessness” by fostering a culture of reconciliation, and trusting that good will triumph over evil.

Turning to the digital realm, the Holy Father identified artificial intelligence as another major frontier. He urged discernment in its use—especially in evangelization and community formation—while remaining vigilant against the risks of isolation, manipulation, and misinformation.

“The Society’s Universal Apostolic Preferences,” Pope Leo affirmed, “are certainly frontiers calling for discernment and courage.”

The Universal Apostolic Preferences as Missionary Pathways

Pope Leo recalled the four UAPs confirmed by Pope Francis in 2019, which remain the guiding framework for Jesuit mission until 2029:

1. Showing the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises and discernment.

2. Walking with the excluded.

3. Accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future.

4. Caring for our common home.

Addressing the first Preference, Pope Leo encouraged Jesuits to meet people “in their restlessness”—in retreat houses, universities, social media, parishes, and informal spaces—responding to “the deep longing of the human heart” that seeks meaning and hope.

Speaking on the second Preference, he urged the Society to confront the “dictatorship of an economy that kills” and to resist fatigue or despair in the face of poverty and injustice. “Do not give in to compassion fatigue,” he said, “for the poor still cry out for dignity and recognition.”

On the third Preference, the Pope highlighted the urgency of accompanying young people and learning to speak their language through presence, dialogue, and authentic witness. “It is important to form spaces where they can encounter Christ, discover their vocation, and work for the Kingdom,” he said, noting that the upcoming World Youth Day 2027 in Korea will be a key moment in this mission.

Concerning the fourth Preference—care for our common home—Pope Leo called for humble collaboration, observing that “young people demand change” in response to the ecological crisis. “Ecological conversion,” he added, “is deeply spiritual; it is about renewing our relationship with God, with one another, and with creation.”

Rooted in Christ, Sent to the Frontiers

The Pope concluded his message by urging Jesuits to remain rooted in Christ through prayer, the sacraments, and devotion to the Sacred Heart. “From this rootedness,” he said, “you will have the courage to walk anywhere: to speak truth, to reconcile, to heal, to labour for justice, to set captives free. No frontier will be beyond your reach if you walk with Christ.”

“My hope for the Society of Jesus,” he continued, “is that you may read the signs of the times with spiritual depth; that you embrace what promotes human dignity and reject what diminishes it. May you be agile, creative, discerning, and always in mission.”

Following the audience with the Pope, the rest of the eighth day of the MMS was devoted to discussions on “Re-imagining the structures of governance.” Presentations by Fr. Benedictus Hari Juliawan, SJ, Provincial of Indonesia, and Fr. Claudio Paul, SJ, from the General Curia, provided material for group reflections and plenary exchanges.

As the meeting enters its final days, the Society continues to discern how to live its mission at the frontiers of faith and justice—walking with Christ, for the life of the world.

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