Pope calls on fellow Jesuits to “row together” with him

Pope Francis issued a heartfelt call to his brother Jesuits worldwide to “row together” with him, as he rows with considerable effort in ‘the barque of Peter,” and to “pray a lot,” because “the night and the powers of darkness are always close.”

Oct 01, 2014

By Gerard O' Connell
Pope Francis issued a heartfelt call to his brother Jesuits worldwide to “row together” with him, as he rows with considerable effort in ‘the barque of Peter,” and to “pray a lot,” because “the night and the powers of darkness are always close.”

He issued his call during the thanksgiving ceremony in Rome, Sept. 27, for the 200th anniversary of the restoration of the Society of Jesus (‘the Society’), as the Jesuit order is called.

“The ship of the Society has been tossed about by the waves and there’s nothing to be surprised at in this. Even the barque of Peter can be tossed about today. The night and the powers of darkness are always close. It’s tiring to row," he told the leadership of the Jesuit order, including the Father General, Adolfo Nicolas, and his council, who were present.

“The Jesuits must be expert and valiant rowers, so row!” he told them, quoting from the Bull of restoration of the Order. “Row then! Row, be strong, when there is a contrary wind. Let us row at the service of the Church. Let us row together! But as we row – everyone rowing, also the Pope in the barque of Peter – we must pray a lot: "‘Lord save us!’ ‘Lord save your people!’ The Lord will save us, even if we are men of little faith and sinners. We hope in the Lord! We hope always in the Lord!”

There was total silence in the church. Jesuits from all continents and many countries who are teaching, studying or working in Rome, had their eyes fixed on the first Jesuit pope in the history of the church. There he was standing in front of them, appealing for their full support as he ‘rowed’ in the barque of Peter at a very important but not easy moment in the history of the church.

He was asking for their prayers and support as he strives hard to govern the universal church and reform the Roman Curia at a not very easy moment in history, on the eve of a very important synod of bishops on the family, and in a turbulent and violent world where, as he said, it seems a Third World War has already started ‘bit by bit.’

Source: America

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