A little-known Spanish priest, who has spent his entire life in Asia among the poor, has been elected to lead the Jesuits, the Catholic Church’s largest religious order.Father Adolfo Nicolás was chosen by 217 electors as the new "Black Pope".
The nickname derives from the power and influence he will wield, as well as from the simple black garments he will wear.
His appointment came almost two weeks after the Jesuits began their 35th General Conference, at which Father Peter Hans Kolvenbach, the previous leader, stepped down.
Fr Nicolás has lived in the Far East since 1964, when he studied theology in Tokyo, spending his time in the Philippines and Japan.
In the last three years, he has run Jesuit operations in East Asia and Oceania. He speaks five languages.
The appointment reflects the desire of the order, which has 20,000 members around the world, to build bridges with the East.
"Asia has a great deal to offer to the Church but has not been explored fully," said Fr Nicolás in an interview last year. "Perhaps we have not been courageous enough, or we have not run the risks we should have," he added.
Fr Nicolás’ biography is also similar to that of Pedro Arrupe, the charismatic former leader of the order who also trained in Tokyo.
Fr Arrupe fell out with Rome because of his leftist leanings.
Father Thomas Smolich, who served on the Coetus Praevius planning committee for the Jesuit General Conference, said: "The electors chose the man God had in mind. Our new Father General is profoundly spiritual; when you talk to him there is a depth that is striking. And at 71 years old, Nicolás walks faster than anyone I’ve ever seen."
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