Vatican City, Feb 3, 2006 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The General Assembly of Jesuits will meet on April 22 with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. A solemn mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Martini on the occasion.

This will take place on the day in which Saint Ignatius and his companions made their profession in 1541 at the Basilica of Saint Paul.
Pope Benedict will salute all the Jesuits after a solemn celebration lead by Cardinal Maria Martini. The order founded by Saint Ignatius which gathers more than twenty thousand members and is lead by its Superior General Father Hans Kolvenbach, nicknamed the “black pope”, due to the black color his habit.
For that day, the Superior General invited in a letter to all Jesuits of the world to announce that, with former consent of Pope Benedict XVI, he decided to convene the 35th General Congregation. At the origin of this call, is his personal decision to leave his charge as Superior General of the Company which is for life usually. He made this move to facilitate the elective process for a new Superior General of the Jesuits, younger and more dynamic than himself.

The General Congregation will meet on Januray 8, 2008

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