14 November 2007
Others
Peter Hans Kolvenbach, Father General of the Company of Jesus, came to Bilbao to take part in the events organised by the Company of Jesus to commemorate the one-hundredth anniversary of Jesuit Pedro Arrupe's birth, one of the prominent figures in 20 th-century social and religious life. Arrupe was Jesuit Father General between 1965 and 1983. He became the second Basque man to hold the highest position within the Jesuit community worldwide after St. Ignatius of Loyola, and he is also one of the most famous Bilbao-born citizens in history.
Last 13 November, Father General P. Hans Kolvenbach visited the photography exhibition entitled 'Arrupe's gaze' at the Fine Arts Museum in Bilbao along with Javier Viar, director of the museum, and Ángel A.Pérez Gómez, curator of the exhibition, which was opened on 12 November and can be visited at this museum in Bilbao until 13 December.This exhibition features 87 photographs, which take us through Father Arrupe's personality and vision, and depict different moments in his life.
On 14 November, a temporary exhibition was opened at Arrupe Etxea building, which was attended by Kolvenvach.This exhibition entitled 'Pedro Arrupe: he taught us to look on the bright side of the world', takes us through the main moments in Pedro Arrupe's life, the activities he promoted, the main features of his thinking, as well as the way in which the Company of Jesus maintains his legacy.
The Jesuit Father General presided over this musical premiere entitled 'Arrupe. My silence', conducted by Gontzal Mendibil. It was held last 14 November, on the day of Father Arrupe's birth, at the Euskalduna Congress and Concert Hall. This show featured outstanding performing artists such as Igor Yebra, the Choral Society of San Sebastian (Orfeón Donostiarra), Ludvig Symphony Orchestra, or Oreka TX, among others.
Father Kolvenbach was appointed Father General of the Company of Jesus on 13 September 1983. He succeeded Father Pedro Arrupe as Head, who was Jesuit Superior General for 16 years, from 1965 to 1983. Father Arrupe was born in Bilbao and, in this same city, another Jesuit, Francisco Gárate, worked as a caretaker at the University of Deusto for about 40 years. He was beatified in 1985, and this year the Company of Jesus also commemorates the 150th anniversary of his birth.They both shared the same eagerness and devotion, one being at the front (Arrupe) and the other at the back (Garate). According to Peter Hans Kolvenvach, it is precisely these values of dedication that unite both Jesuits.
The Father General of the Company of Jesus, Peter Hans Kolvenbach, will leave his post as the head of the Jesuit community after 24 years of leadership under two Supreme Pontiffs, John Paul II and Benedict XVI.The next General Congregation, which will be the 35th in Jesuit history, will start next 7 January 2008, and a new Father General will be appointed under the approval of the Holy Father. Father General Peter Hans Kolvenbach hopes that the Congregation will be able to find a solution for the lights and shades that may cast over the company and to bring the mission to be accomplished by the Jesuits up to date.
According to Father General Peter Hans Kolvenbach, from a historical point of view, more years must have passed until we can weigh up Father Arrupe's influence in the good running of the Company. However, without any doubt, his leadership both inside and outside the company itself was unmistakable, as evidenced by the role he played during the Vatican Council.
