‘Reconcile with fellow beings’

Pune: Fr Arturo Sosa, Rome-based Superior General of the Society of Jesus, celebrated the mass on the first day of the lent season at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth in Ramwadi on Wednesday.

Fr Sosa, who arrived on a three-day visit here and addressed the staff and students of Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, said that the season of Lent is a gift of joy.

The Superior General of the Society of Jesus or the Jesuits is often referred to as the Black Pope due to his black cassock and his most powerful position in the Catholic Church, next only to the Pope.

Superior General of the Society of Jesus is the ex-officio chancellor of the Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth.

Fr Sosa concluded his speech quoting a prayer from the Upanishads: “O God, from untruth, lead us to truth; from darkness, lead us to light; from death, lead us to eternal life, Amen.”

Rev Fr Selva Rathinam, President, Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, welcomed him. Fr George Pattery, Vice-Chancellor, Fr Bhausaheb Sansares, Rector, Papal Seminary, and others felicitated him.

Fr Ausa will meet the members of the Pune Jesuit province at St Vincent’s school campus on Thursday.

Fr Sosa, who is on a week-long India visit, also met the Jesuits in Panaji, Goa, recently.