General Congregation

General Congregation 36

In the 476 years since its founding, the Society of Jesus has convened only 35 general congregations. The 36th General Congregation convened in Rome on October 2, 2016. A general congregation is always summoned on the death or resignation of the head of the Society — the Superior General — to choose his successor, or when the General decides action is needed on serious matters that he cannot or does not want to decide alone. Father Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, former Superior General, a native of Spain, announced in December of 2014 his intention to resign. Fr. Nicolás was elected in 2008 to succeed Father Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, SJ. Don Doll, SJ, was privileged to be the official photographer of GC33 [1995], GC35 [2008] and GC36 [2016].