Peter Hans Kolvenbach
Encyclopedia
Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J.
, S.T.D.
(born in Druten
, Netherlands November 30, 1928), was the 29th Superior General
of the Society of Jesus
, the largest male religious order of the Catholic Church.
Kolvenbach's childhood was spent in Druten
, near Nijmegen in the Netherlands
. There, he attended Canisius College for his secondary studies. At Canisius, he concentrated on modern languages. He entered the novitiate
at Mariendaal on 7 September 1948. After completing philosophy
studies at Berchmans Institute in Nijmegen, he was assigned to Lebanon
, where he completed his doctorate
in Sacred Theology
at Université de Saint-Joseph in Beirut
. Soon after, in 1961, he was ordained
a priest
in the Armenian Catholic Church
, an Eastern-rite church in communion with Rome.
The next years of his life were spent in academia, specifically in linguistics. From 1963 to 1976, he taught general and Oriental linguistics at The Hague
, Paris
, and Beirut. Eventually, he was appointed Professor of General Linguistics and Armenian at Université de Saint-Joseph. He served in that capacity until 1981, when he became rector
of the Pontifical Oriental Institute
.
During his time on the Faculty of Saint-Joseph, he also served as provincial superior
of the Jesuit vice-province
of the Middle East
.
suffered a severe stroke, in the plane on his way back to Rome. Although he survived for another ten years he wanted to step down as Superior General. Due to a personal intervention of Pope
John Paul II two Jesuits were appointed to lead the Order: Paolo Dezza
and Giuseppe Pittau - contrary to the provisions of the Order itself. As reported by Malachi Martin
, John Paul II had decided to depose Arrupe before his stroke, thus whether or not Arrupe subsequently wanted to step down was immaterial.
During the 33rd General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, which was summoned to receive the formal resignation of Father Pedro Arrupe, Father Kolvenbach was elected as the Order's 29th Superior General. His election took place on 13 September 1983.
Whereas the Arrupe years were characterized by heavy polarisation and members leaving the Order, the 25 years with Kolvenbach were mainly a period of ageing.
, he intended to step down in 2008, the year he would turn 80. As the superior general is elected for life, Kolvenbach was only the second to resign the office.
The 35th General Congregation
of the Society of Jesus convened on 5 January 2008 in Rome
. On 14 January it accepted Kolvenbach's resignation and elected Adolfo Nicolás
as his successor.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, S.T.D.
Doctor of Sacred Theology
The Doctor of Sacred Theology is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Catholic Church....
(born in Druten
Druten
Druten is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. The municipality covers the eastern part of the Land van Maas en Waal region of the province of Gelderland...
, Netherlands November 30, 1928), was the 29th Superior General
Superior General of the Society of Jesus
The Superior General of the Society of Jesus is the official title of the leader of the Society of Jesus—the Roman Catholic religious order, also known as the Jesuits. He is generally addressed as Father General. The position carries the nickname of Black Pope, after his simple black priest's...
of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, the largest male religious order of the Catholic Church.
Life
Druten
Druten is a municipality and a town in the eastern Netherlands. The municipality covers the eastern part of the Land van Maas en Waal region of the province of Gelderland...
, near Nijmegen in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. There, he attended Canisius College for his secondary studies. At Canisius, he concentrated on modern languages. He entered the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
at Mariendaal on 7 September 1948. After completing philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
studies at Berchmans Institute in Nijmegen, he was assigned to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, where he completed his doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Sacred Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Université de Saint-Joseph in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
. Soon after, in 1961, he was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
in the Armenian Catholic Church
Armenian Catholic Church
|- |The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in union with the other Eastern Rite, Oriental Rite and Latin Rite Catholics who accept the Bishop of Rome as spiritual leader of the Church. It is regulated by Eastern canon law...
, an Eastern-rite church in communion with Rome.
The next years of his life were spent in academia, specifically in linguistics. From 1963 to 1976, he taught general and Oriental linguistics at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and Beirut. Eventually, he was appointed Professor of General Linguistics and Armenian at Université de Saint-Joseph. He served in that capacity until 1981, when he became rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of the Pontifical Oriental Institute
Pontifical Oriental Institute
The Pontifical Oriental Institute is the premier center for the study of Eastern Christianity in Rome, Italy....
.
During his time on the Faculty of Saint-Joseph, he also served as provincial superior
Provincial superior
A Provincial Superior is a major superior of a religious order acting under the order's Superior General and exercising a general supervision over all the members of that order in a territorial division of the order called a province--similar to but not to be confused with an ecclesiastical...
of the Jesuit vice-province
Province
A province is a territorial unit, almost always an administrative division, within a country or state.-Etymology:The English word "province" is attested since about 1330 and derives from the 13th-century Old French "province," which itself comes from the Latin word "provincia," which referred to...
of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Father General
On August 7, 1981 the late father General Pedro ArrupePedro Arrupe
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J. was the twenty eighth Superior General of the Society of Jesus. He was born in Bilbao, Spain.-Education and training:...
suffered a severe stroke, in the plane on his way back to Rome. Although he survived for another ten years he wanted to step down as Superior General. Due to a personal intervention of Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
John Paul II two Jesuits were appointed to lead the Order: Paolo Dezza
Paolo Dezza
Paolo Dezza, S.J. was a Roman Catholic Jesuit cardinal who led the Pontifical Gregorian University during the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, whom he aided in the preparation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary...
and Giuseppe Pittau - contrary to the provisions of the Order itself. As reported by Malachi Martin
Malachi Martin
Malachi Brendan Martin Ph.D. was a Catholic priest, theologian, writer on the Catholic Church, and professor at the Vatican's Pontifical Biblical Institute. He held three doctorates and was the sole author of sixteen books covering religious and geopolitical topics, which were published in eight...
, John Paul II had decided to depose Arrupe before his stroke, thus whether or not Arrupe subsequently wanted to step down was immaterial.
During the 33rd General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, which was summoned to receive the formal resignation of Father Pedro Arrupe, Father Kolvenbach was elected as the Order's 29th Superior General. His election took place on 13 September 1983.
Whereas the Arrupe years were characterized by heavy polarisation and members leaving the Order, the 25 years with Kolvenbach were mainly a period of ageing.
Resignation
On 2 February 2006, Fr. Kolvenbach informed the members of the Society of Jesus that, with the consent of Pope Benedict XVIPope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
, he intended to step down in 2008, the year he would turn 80. As the superior general is elected for life, Kolvenbach was only the second to resign the office.
The 35th General Congregation
General Congregation
The highest authority in the Society of Jesus is the General Congregation, an assembly of the Jesuit representatives from all parts of the world. A general congregation is always summoned on the death or resignation of the administrative head of the order—called the Superior General—to...
of the Society of Jesus convened on 5 January 2008 in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. On 14 January it accepted Kolvenbach's resignation and elected Adolfo Nicolás
Adolfo Nicolás
Father Adolfo Nicolás Pachón, S.J., S.T.D. is a Spanish priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the thirtieth and current Superior General of the Society of Jesus, the largest male religious order in the Church.-Biography:...
as his successor.