09 May 2025
Bilbao Campus
The University of Deusto’s Board of Governors has officially announced that the University Chancellor and Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Arturo Sosa Abascal SJ, has appointed Fr. Francisco José Ruiz Pérez SJ as Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Governors, succeeding Fr. Javier López Ariztegui SJ.
Regarding this change, the Father General stated: "I entrust this transition to God, and I want to express my gratitude to Fr. Javier López for his faithful and commendable dedication to the responsibilities of Vice-Chancellor. I would also like to thank Fr. Francisco José Ruiz for his willingness to accept this new assignment entrusted to him by the Society”.
The University of Deusto wishes to express its deep gratitude to Fr. Javier López for his valuable work and offers its full support to Fr. Francisco José Ruiz in his new responsibilities.
The date of taking office will be announced in due course.
Francisco José Ruiz Pérez, SJ: a journey of theological thought and Ignatian identity
Doctor of Dogmatic Theology, Francisco José Ruiz Pérez, SJ has dedicated his life to theological reflection and deepening in Ignatian spirituality. Born in Santa Cruz de La Palma in 1961, he entered the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Seville in 1981 and was ordained priest in 1994. He completed his formation with the Third Probation in Chile (1998) and the profession of his final vows in 1999.
He holds a degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical University of Comillas and a PhD from Hochschule Sankt Georgen (Frankfurt). He has developed an extensive teaching career in theology. He taught at the Faculty of Theology in Granada (1998-2004) and, since 2018, he has been professor and dean of the Faculty of Theology at the University of Deusto, where he has also served as the rector's delegate for Identity and Mission.
His academic and educational work is extensive. Author of books such as Teología del camino (2000), El liderazgo en la Iglesia (2023) and El Evangelio diario de la Compañía de Jesús 2024, he has also contributed numerous chapters in books, entries in dictionaries and articles in specialised journals such as Manresa, Sal Terrae, Pensamiento and Proyección. His publications cover topics such as Ignatian theological anthropology, discernment, religious life and Ignatian spirituality in contemporary contexts, among others.
