Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Jesuits likely to elect new 'black pope' on Saturday

Jesuits meeting in Rome will probably elect their new leader this weekend, a spokeswoman for the centuries-old Roman Catholic order said Monday.

The superior general, known as the "black pope" because of the colour of his cape and the power wielded by the order, will probably be elected to the lifetime position on Saturday.

Dutchman Peter Hans Kolvenbach, 80, who has led the Society of Jesus for 24 years, has decided to step down, becoming the first to do so of his own accord.

The future leader of the 19,000-strong order will be faced with the task of injecting new life into the organisation founded in 1540 by Saint Ignatius Loyola.
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