Francis Xavier and the Jesuits

[mindlight]

In the light of the new pope Francis 1 being a Jesuit and possibly having chosen his name in honour and in the spirit of the founder of his movement I would be interested in knowing more about Francis Xavier and the Jesuits.

1) How would you characterise his life?
2) How Christians was he?
3) What have been the strengths and weaknesses of the movement that he founded?
4) What are the major achievements of the Jesuits
5) What will be different having a Jesuit as a pope as opposed to a normal Catholic?

Francis Xavier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Society of Jesus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Rhamiel]

I think that he picked the name Francis in honor of St.Francis of Assisi
I assumed that it was St.Francis Xavier at first too
but everything I have read since he was elected has pointed to St.Francis of Assisi

 

[mindlight]

I think that he picked the name Francis in honor of St.Francis of Assisi
I assumed that it was St.Francis Xavier at first too
but everything I have read since he was elected has pointed to St.Francis of Assisi

Yes think you are right. Of course as the first Jesuit pope there is a Xavier connection by association with the movement.

 

[ebia]

Yes think you are right. Of course as the first Jesuit pope there is a Xavier connection by association with the movement.

Your OP makes it sound like Francis Xavier founded the Jesuits, which is not the case. He was an early Jesuit, but the order was founded by Ignatius of Loyola.

A good read for a taste of Jesuit thinking is "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything". (James Martin, SJ)

Of course Ignatius was himself heavily inspired to start on his path by reading about Francis of Assisi and Dominic

 

[jannikitty]

Francis Xavier did not found the Jesuits although he was an early member of the the Society of Jesus (name for Jesuits) and also a missionary and was from Spain. The founder of the Jesuit order was Ignatius of Loyola. You can find more on that here...Ignatius of Loyola - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The official name for the new pope is simply Francis according to the Vatican. There is not a Francis 1 until there is an Francis 2.

Pope Francis chose the name Francis because of the life and example of Francis of Assisi who started the Franciscan order. Francis of Assisi was never a Jesuit although the Pope himself is a Jesuit. At first I also wondered if, since he was Jesuit, he chose a Jesuit's name. You can read more about the present Pope Francis here: Pope Francis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Francis of Assisi (the Catholics and many others call St. Francis) was a lover of the poor and all of God's creatures. He lived hundreds of years before the Jesuits were founded. He felt called to a life of poverty, devotion to the poor and sick, and reforming of the Church of his day from within. In time many men joined him and out of a small band the Franciscans began. A movie which tells about all of that and his early life is Brother Sun, Sister Moon. which can can download free on youtube. You can also read more about St. Francis of Assisi (Italian) here: Francis of Assisi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pope Francis has also declared through his words and life a distinct love for the poor in his native Argentina and throughout the world; so not at all surprising he would take his name from the Beloved St. Francis of Assisi.

 

[Rhamiel]

Your OP makes it sound like Francis Xavier founded the Jesuits, which is not the case. He was an early Jesuit, but the order was founded by Ignatius of Loyola.

A good read for a taste of Jesuit thinking is "The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything". (James Martin, SJ)

Of course Ignatius was himself heavily inspired to start on his path by reading about Francis of Assisi and Dominic

true, St.Ignatius was the founder of the Jesuits, but St.Francis Xavier did have a lot of influence on the direction that the order took

 

[jannikitty]

true, St.Ignatius was the founder of the Jesuits, but St.Francis Xavier did have a lot of influence on the direction that the order took

Yes, absolutely!

 

[Rhamiel]

St.Francis Xavier went to the ends of the earth to preach the gospel, trying to spread the good news to the peoples of india, china and japan